МИНИСТЕРСТВО ОБРАЗОВАНИЯ И НАУКИ РФ
Нижегородский государственный университет им. Н.И. Лобачевского
Национальный исследовательский университет
GOVERNMENT IN BRITAIN:
POLITICAL PARTIES, THE CROWN, PARLIAMENT AND
PRINCIPLES OF GOVERNING
Учебно-методическое пособие
Рекомендовано методической комиссией Института международных
отношений и мировой истории для студентов ННГУ, обучающихся по
направлениям подготовки 031900 «Международные отношения»,
032000 «Зарубежное регионоведение», 030200 «Политология»
Нижний Новгород
2014
УДК 42.8 (07)
ББК 143.21я.73
Ж 60
Ж 60 GOVERNMENT IN BRITAIN: POLITICAL PARTIES, THE CROWN,
PARLIAMENT AND PRINCIPLES OF GOVERNING. Составители: Жерновая
О.Р., Бузуева Ю.С., Глазунова Н.А., Лобанова Н.С., Подгусков В.Н.: Учебнометодическое пособие. – Нижний Новгород: Нижегородский госуниверситет,
2014. – 66 с.
Рецензент: д.п.н., профессор М.И. Рыхтик
Учебно-методическое пособие представляет собой тематический сборник
текстов общественно-политической направленности по государственнополитической системе Великобритании.
Цель пособия – обучение чтению специальной литературы и анализу
текста, развитие речевых навыков подготовленной и спонтанной речи, а также
творческого письма. Для решения этих задач тексты пособия снабжены
лексическими упражнениями, вопросами для обсуждения и инструментами для
ведения дискуссий, такими как модели аргументации.
Пособие соответствует профессионально-образовательным программам
студентов-международников, регионоведов и политологов, учитывает
содержание курса страноведения, курсов политологии, истории и теории
международных отношений.
УДК 42.8(07)
ББК 143.21я.73
© Нижегородский государственный
университет им. Н.И.Лобачевского, 2014
Contents
Введение
4
UNIT I. POLITICAL PARTIES OF THE UNITED KINGDOM
5
UNIT II. THE CROWN
20
UNIT III. PARLIAMENT
25
UNIT IV. THE REFORM OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS
37
UNIT V. GOVERNMENT
49
3
Введение
Учебно-методическое пособие «GOVERNMENT IN BRITAIN:
POLITICAL PARTIES, THE CROWN, PARLIAMENT AND PRINCIPLES OF
GOVERNING» представляет собой тематический сборник текстов
общественно-политической
направленности
по
государственнополитической системе Великобритании.
Данное пособие состоит из 5 частей и строится по тематическому
принципу и рассматривает основные элементы политической и
государственной системы Великобритании. Данное пособие широко
представляет страноведческий аспект, позволяющий воссоздать современное
государственное устройство страны. Специальная лексика подается в
интересной и легкой для усвоения форме, закрепляется в многочисленных
упражнениях, нацеленных на формирование всех видов речевой
деятельности. Каждый раздел содержит материалы разнообразной
стилистической направленности, что дает возможность обучать студентов
работе с разнотипными текстами. В пособие также включены интерактивные
задания на аудирование с привлечением интернет ресурсов.
Учитывая современные потребности обучающихся, пособие ставит
целью научить молодых специалистов – международников, регионоведов и
политологов общаться с коллегами на профессиональные темы, проводить
дискуссии, участвовать в диспутах, обсуждать и убеждать. Для решения этих
задач тексты пособия снабжены вопросами для обсуждения и инструментами
для ведения дискуссий.
4
UNIT I
POLITICAL PARTIES
OF THE UNITED KINGDOM
Pre-reading guesses
Read the head of the unit. Investigate the idea of political parties.
1. A political party is a group of people united by shared political preferences
and a general ideological identity that is organized for the purpose of winning
government power, by electoral or other means. In other words, a political
party is an organization that seeks to attain political power within a government
by participating in electoral campaigns. Parties often espouse a certain
ideology, but may also represent a coalition among disparate interests. Political
parties should be distinguished from pressure/interest groups. Essentially a
political party will have policies to cover all general areas of public life,
whereas a pressure/interest group will seek to influence one specific policy
area, for example environmental issues.
2. Write down some words and phrases which you associate with political parties
and try to make up your definition of this term.
3. Now study other definitions of political parties. Underline similarities and
circle differences. Which of them best matches your understanding of this
phenomenon?
- A political party is a group of people who seek to influence or form the
government according to their agreed views and principles;
- A political party is an organization that mobilizes voters on behalf of a
common set of interests, concerns, and goals. It formulates political and
policy agendas, selects and nominates candidates, conducts election
campaigns, and monitors and scrutinizes the work of their elected
representatives. Political parties link citizens and the government,
providing a way for people to have a voice in their government;
- A political party is an organization of individuals and factions attempting
to gain control of the government by winning elections.
4. When did the first political parties appear? Where did it happen? In your
opinion, what was the main driving force behind the formation of the first
political parties?
5. What are the fundamental functions of political parties in modern politics?
6. What types of political parties do you know? Using your knowledge of
political theory and information you can find on the Internet, describe
peculiarities of the following types of modern political parties:
- Elite parties
- Mass parties
- Catch-all parties
5
- Cartel parties
- Protest parties
- Spoiler parties
- Splinter parties
- Marginal parties
- Agrarian parties
- Green parties
- Fascist parties
- Populist parties
- Progressive parties
- Reactionary parties
Having done that, try to find examples of these political parties both in Russian and
foreign politics.
7. What is understood by the political spectrum? How can political parties be
classified according to their position on the political spectrum? Fill in the
following table:
Left-wing parties
Centrist parties
Right-wing parties
Dominant ideology
Economic views
Internal affairs
Foreign policy
priorities
Sources of funding
Typical voters
Examples
8. How would you put Russian political parties on this spectrum? Give grounds
for your views and ideas.
9. Can a modern state do without political parties? Justify your opinion.
Vocabulary in use:
I. Some useful words and expressions with can be used to speak about political
parties:
1. Political parties are associated with/ adopt/ endorse/ favour/ support/
challenge/ oppose radical/ progressive/ conservative/ traditional/ moderate
policies/ stance/ views/ position on something
2. Political parties can be Democratic/Republican/Conservative/Labour/ Liberal;
ruling/ governing/ dominant/ opposition/ majority/ minority/ parliamentary;
main/major/core/established/national/regional/peripheral/
newly-founded;
Catholic/Protestant/ Islamist/ secular; centralized/ strong/ cohesive/ flexible/
loose/ open/ weak/ decentralized.
6
3. Party leaders can be called party officers/chairmen/ bosses/chiefs/ party elite/
party’s top committee/ party’s big shots. They are in charge of a party (lead/
chair/ preside/ head a party, exercise/provide leadership and stay on as party
leaders), struggle for and win party leadership (stand for/ battle for/
campaign for/ race for/ challenge/ contest leadership, face/ withstand/ defeat a
challenge to smb’s leadership, assume/win leadership, take on/over from smb
and beat off a leadership rival/competitor) and, sooner or later, leave the
position of the party leader (resign as party leader, step aside/down and give
up the chairmanship of the party).
4. Party members and supporters can be described as party activists/ party
operatives/ core identifiers/ the party faithful/ the rank-and-file/ the grass-roots.
They can be members of/belong to/ join/ leave/ resign from/ be expelled from a
political party.
5. Groupings within parties are known as the left/right wing of the party,
factions
(which
are
frequently
warring/competing/rival/opposing,
conservative/hard-line/liberal/moderate/radical,
dominant/leading/major,
formal/informal, dissident/anti-reform/anti-talks), cliques and the rightwing/nationalist/radical fringe.
6. Political parties originate/emerge/develop, seek to govern, contest elections,
rise to/gain power, wield/use/exercise power, fall from/lose power. Parties are
set up/established/founded/formed, break up/wind up and can be
dissolved/disbanded or even banned/outlawed/abolished.
7. Political parties represent/express/articulate/voice group interests/concerns,
formulate/establish/set the political/policy agenda, choose/select/nominate
candidates, conduct election campaigns, seek electoral support and battle for
votes and monitor/scrutinize the work of their elected representatives.
8. Party representatives are obliged to toe/follow the party line, which is
frequently enshrined in a party platform or manifesto which consists of
different platform planks. Almost all political parties make election promises
and manifesto commitments during an election campaign.
9. Party gatherings are known as party conferences (the UK)/party conventions
and caucuses (the US)/ party congresses (communist states).
10. Sources of party funding/finance can be state subsidies/ state subventions/
federal funds, membership fees/dues/subscriptions and sponsors’ contributions
and donations.
II. Answer the following questions using the active vocabulary:
1. What is the major objective of political parties? How can parties achieve their
main aim?
2. Do you think that political parties should always adopt a progressive stance on
burning political issues? Why?/Why not?
3. Do you believe that minority and peripheral parties should have some say in
national politics?
4. What is your opinion on religious (Catholic/Protestant/ Islamist, etc.) parties
and their participation in the decision-making process?
7
5. What are the advantages and disadvantages of centralized and decentralized
political parties?
6. How long can (and should) a person serve as the party chief? Justify your
opinion, referring to particular examples of world political leaders.
7. What party members are described as the rank-and-file and grassroots of a
party? Would you like to be one of them?
8. Why can party members be expelled from their party?
9. What role do factions play in party politics? Can a modern political party exist
without them or not? Base your opinion on some examples.
10. What are the most common reasons for a party’s winding up?
11. Do you know any political parties which were outlawed? Why did it happen?
12. Do you think that parties are an efficient tool of scrutinizing the activities of
different governmental institutions?
13. Have you ever read any party manifesto? If so, what were your impressions?
Did that political party manage to keep its election promises?
14. What role do party conferences and conventions play in the work of modern
political parties?
15. What are the most widespread sources of party funding in Russia?
Pre-reading questions
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
When did the modern political system of the United Kingdom emerge?
What are the distinguishing features of the British political system?
What are the main political parties in modern Britain?
Which is the ruling party now?
Who are the leaders of the main political parties in Britain?
Do parts of the UK (Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland) have their own
political parties?
Reading I
Brief history and modern views of the major British political parties
For a long time, British parliamentary democracy was dominated by the twoparty system, with two main parties forming the government and the official
Opposition. Historically, these two parties were the Tories (now the Conservative
Party) and the Whigs (now the Liberal Democrats). The terms Tory and Whig were
originally insults: a “whiggamor” was a cattle driver, and a “tory” was an Irish
term for an outlaw.
Traditionally the Tories were associated with the gentry, favouring
agricultural interests and the Church of England, while the Whigs were more
linked with trade, money, larger land holders (or “land magnates”). Both were
committed to the political system in place, but neither group could be considered a
true political party in the modern sense but somewhat loose alliances of interests
and individuals.
8
In the 18th century the Tory Party experienced its ups and downs. In the 19th
century it picked up and became known as the Conservative Party (the word
“conservative” first came into use in the 1830s). After becoming associated with
repression of popular discontent in the early 19th century, the Tories underwent a
fundamental transformation under the influence of Sir Robert Peel, himself an
industrialist rather than a landowner, who outlined a new “Conservative”
philosophy of reforming ills while conserving the good.
Whigs were traditionally in opposition to the Tory Party. Initially they
controlled the government, but later developed into the minority party until 1830.
During the next few years, the Whigs became known as the Liberal Party. The
term “Liberal Party” was first used officially in the late 19th century, though it was
used colloquially for decades beforehand.
The Liberals and Conservatives dominated the political scene until the
1920s, when the Liberal Party declined in popularity and suffered a long stream of
resignations. It was replaced as the main anti-Tory opposition party by the newly
emerging Labour Party, which represented an alliance between the labour
movement, organized trade unions and various socialist societies. The
establishment of the Labour Party led to the demise of the Whigs as the liberal
force in British politics and caused a slow waning of energy from the Liberal
movement.
Throughout the second half of the 20th century Labour governments
alternated with Conservative ones. The Conservatives were in power for most of
the time, with the Labour Party suffering the “wilderness years” of the 1950s and
the late 20th century (several General Election defeats). In 1979 Margaret Thatcher
became leader of the Conservative Party and made a fundamental change to
Conservative policies, turning the Conservative Party into a right-wing radical
body. Her successor John Major pursued radical policies of privatization, antitrade-union legislation and monetarism, otherwise known as Thatcherism.
The Labour Party responded to Margaret Thatcher’s government by moving
the party further to the left, which split it and made it unelectable for a decade.
In response to the leftward shift of the Labour Party some moderate party
members formed a breakaway group, called the Social Democratic Party, as a
centrist alternative to the Labour and the Conservatives. It eventually merged with
the Liberal Party to form the Liberal Democrats (1988). Support for the new party
has increased ever since, and the Liberal Democrats (often referred to as the
LibDems) in 2001 won a record number of seats in the House of Commons.
Tony Blair became leader of the Labour Party in 1994. In 1997 Labour won
the General Election with a historic landslide result and the promise of an entirely
new beginning. It had dissociated itself from old-style Labour by rejecting the
ideology of state-owned industry, and by reducing trade union influence on the
party. It also portrayed itself as filled with youthful vigor, in vivid contrast with the
Conservatives who seemed old and tired. It made long-term issues its priority, in
particular raising educational standards in order to achieve a workforce fit for the
21st century. Above all, Labour promised to rejuvenate Britain. They consolidated
9
their position in 2001, winning a second consecutive General Election – the first
time ever achievement for the Labour Party.
This led to the crisis of confidence in the Conservative Party, which had
become complacent with its position as the ‘natural party of government’ after its
18 years of power. Its drift to the right as well as leadership problems lost it a large
number of voters and made its chiefs take on a challenging role of improving the
party’s image. It was successfully done when David Cameron headed the
Conservatives (2005) and announced his intention to reform and realign the party,
making the Conservative brand more attractive to young, socially liberal voters.
Thus, nowadays there are three major national political parties in the United
Kingdom. They are the Conservative Party, the Labour Party and the Liberal
Democrats.
The Conservative Party is the party of the Right, identified with the idea of
economic freedom and until Margaret Thatcher’s coming to power in 1979 with
the idea of resistance to change. It has successfully portrayed itself as the party of
patriotism. As in the 19th century, it appeals to a ‘property-owning democracy’, and
as a result its support tends to lie with the wealthier classes, receiving much money
from major business and financial institutions. It gives emphasis to the importance
of law and order, and the maintenance of strong armed forces to protect British
interests.
According to the Conservatives’ party manifesto, “it’s time for a
Government that will deliver. It’s time to support marriage and the family; time for
a war on crime; time to cut taxes; time for our schools and hospitals to benefit from
choice and freedom; time to show respect to our pensioners; time for real savings,
not welfare dependency; time to endow our universities. It’s time for common
sense”.
In other words, the fundamental principles of the Conservative Party can be
summarized as follows: individuals have an absolute right to liberty; ownership is
the strongest foundation of individual freedom, opportunity and independence; the
role of government is to strengthen individual liberty and choice; in economic
affairs the Government should establish a climate in which enterprise can flourish.
Labour is preeminently the party of social justice, though its emphasis is
less on equality than on the achievement of well-being and opportunity for all
members of society. It tends to give the collective well-being of society slightly
more importance than individual freedom. It was once committed to public
ownership of major industries, and to economic planning. It now favours an
entrepreneurial but socially aware economy. The trade union movement, which
founded the Labour Party, has lost the influence it once had over the party.
As Labour claims, they “want to create a community in which power, wealth
and opportunity are in the hands of the many not the few, where the rights people
enjoy reflect the duties they owe, and where people live together freely, in a spirit
of solidarity, tolerance and respect”.
Consequently, the Labour Party seeks to achieve a dynamic economy
serving the public interest; a just society, which judges its strength by the condition
of the weak as much as the strong; an open democracy, in which government is
10
held to account by the people; a healthy environment, which has to be protected,
enhanced and held in trust for future generations.
The Liberal Democratic Party seeks to attract the votes of the middle
ground between Labour and the Conservatives, but has also tended to attract
opponents of the Conservatives, dominant in the south of England, and opponents
of the Labour Party, dominant in the north. It is the party keenest on constitutional
and electoral reform. It also prides itself on being less tied to either capitalist or
union interests, and being free to offer more radical policies.
As they say, “the Liberal Democrats exist to build and safeguard a fair, free
and open society, in which we seek to balance the fundamental values of liberty,
equality and community, and in which no one shall be enslaved by poverty,
ignorance or conformity. We champion the freedom, dignity and well-being of
individuals. We believe that the role of the state is to enable all citizens to attain
these ideals, to contribute fully to their communities and to take part in the
decisions which affect their lives”.
Standing for human rights and freedoms, the LibDems promote the idea that
individual liberty lies at the heart of society. According to them, the main aim of
the government is to enable men and women to develop their own talents to the
full, free from arbitrary interference of government. Thus, the role of the
government is to guarantee this freedom, to create an enterprising, competitive
market-based economy.
Pronunciation
Check the pronunciation of the following words:
gentry
demise
alternate
wilderness
successor
privatization
monetarism
vigour
rejuvenate
consecutive
complacent
realign
portray
endow
flourish
preeminently
entrepreneurial
opponent
11
Word study
I. Give definitions of the following words and illustrate their meaning in the
sentences of your own:
1. to favour smth.
2. to be committed to smth.
3. to outline sth.
4. the demise of smth.
5. to alternate
6. a successor
7. monetarism
8. unelectable
9. to merge
10. to dissociate itself from smth.
11. to portray itself as smth.
12. to rejuvenate
13. consecutive
14. to realign
15. to endow
16. to flourish
17. preeminently
18. the middle ground
19. to safeguard smth.
20. to champion smth.
II. Explain the meaning of the following word combinations, translate them
from English into Russian and use them in your own sentences to comment on
British and Russian political parties:
1. a loose alliance
2. to experience ups and downs
3. repression of popular discontent
4. to decline in popularity
5. to suffer a long stream of resignations
6. to cause a slow waning of smth.
7. leftward shift
8. to form a breakaway group
9. a historic landslide result
10. the crisis of confidence
11. to become complacent with smth.
12. drift to the right
13. property-owning democracy
14. public ownership
15. economic planning
16. a socially aware economy
12
17. to serve the public interest
18. to be held to account
19. to lie at the heart of smth.
20. arbitrary interference of government
21. an enterprising and competitive market-based economy.
III. Find in the text the English equivalents for the following words and
expressions and use them in the sentences referring to political parties in your
country:
1. всеобщие выборы
2. поражение на выборах
3. недовольство народа
4. укрепить положение
5. внести существенные изменения в политику партии
6. проводить радикальную политику
7. победить на выборах
8. борьба с преступностью
9. основа свободы личности
10. благосостояние людей
11. рыночная экономика
12. быть избранным в Парламент
13. нести ответственность перед народом
14. сократить налоги
15. защищать права личности
After-reading questions:
1. What were the first two political parties which originally dominated the British
political system?
2. What were the Tories and the Whigs traditionally associated with?
3. Why do you think the first British political parties are called loose alliances of
interests and individuals rather than genuine political parties?
4. When and who was the Conservative party formed by?
5. What political party did the Whigs develop into in the 19th century?
6. How did the British party scene change in the 1920s? In your opinion, what
were the reasons for such changes?
7. What was the Labour Party originally based on?
8. Which political party dominated the national political scene in the second half
of the 20th century?
9. What is understood by the “wilderness years” which the Labour Party suffered
in the 1950s?
10. What are the main principles of Thatcherism?
11. How was the Social Democratic Party founded?
12. What made the Labour Party unelectable for a decade in the 1980s?
13. What changes did Tony Blair make to the traditional Labour image?
13
14. What caused the crisis of confidence in the Conservative Party? How was it
overcome?
15. What is the traditional electorate of the Conservative Party? Why is it so?
16. Why do you think the trade union movement finally lost its leverage on the
Labour Party?
17. Who are typical voters of the Liberal Democratic Party? In your opinion, why
is it so?
18. Are there any platform planks which all the three major British political parties
share? If so, what are they?
Talking point
I. Using the official websites of all the three major British political parties
(www.conservatives.com; www.libdems.org.uk, www.labour.org.uk) fill in the
following table:
Conservatives
Labour
LibDems
Economic views
Internal policy
Devolution of
power
Views on
migration
British
membership in the
EU
British-American
relations
Representation in
Parliament
Leader and famous
members
(both
past and present)
Electorate
II. Using the table above as well as information from the British and Russian
media compare and contrast the main political parties of Great Britain and
Russia, try to identify some similarities and differences.
Comment on the following statements:
1. Political parties… are the only place left to us where people don’t talk politics
(Oscar Wilde).
14
2. Things must be done by parties, not by persons using parties as tools
(Benjamin Disraeli).
3. Vote for the man who promises least; he’ll be the least disappointing (Bernard
Baruch).
Pre-reading guesses
I. Investigate the idea of party systems:
A party system is a set of all significant parties in a country, their interactions,
and the electoral system and voter loyalties that produce it. In oneparty/single-party systems one party monopolizes/usurps power, which allows
such states to be classified as one-party states. In two-party systems two major
parties alternate in power and control of government power shifts between two
dominant parties, which makes possible a system of responsible party
government. In multiparty systems several parties share power or participate
in power, increasing the likelihood of multiparty coalitions. In dominant party
systems, one party is a constant component of the executive, governing either
alone or in coalition.
II. Answer the following questions:
1. What are the pros and cons of having each type of a party system?
2. Which type of a party system do you consider the most stable one? And which
is the shakiest one? Why? Justify your opinion.
3. Can you give examples of states with each type of a party system?
4. How can you characterize the Russian party system? How has it evolved since
the emergence of the first Russian political parties in the late 80s – early 90s?
5. Can a one-party state be democratic?
Reading II
Britain is normally described as having a 'two-party system'. This is because,
since 1945, one of the two big parties has, by itself, controlled the government, and
members of these two parties have occupied more than 90% of all of the seats in
the House of Commons. Moreover, this is not a peculiarly modern phenomenon.
Basically the same situation existed throughout the nineteenth century, except that
the Liberals, rather than Labour, were one of the two big parties. The Labour party
was formed at the beginning of the 20th century and within about thirty years had
replaced the Liberals in this role.
One reason for the existence of this situation is the electoral system. The
other is the nature of the origin of British political parties. Britain is unlike most
other countries in that its parties were first formed inside Parliament, and were
only later extended to the public at large. During the eighteenth century Members
of Parliament tended to divide themselves into two camps, those who usually
supported the government of the time and those who usually did not. During the
nineteenth century it gradually became the habit that the party which did not
15
control the government presented itself as an alternative government. This idea of
an alternative government has received legal recognition. The leader of the second
biggest party in the House of Commons (or, more exactly, of the biggest party
which is not in government) receives the title 'Leader of Her Majesty's Opposition'
and even gets a salary to prove the importance of this role. He or she chooses a
'shadow cabinet', thereby presenting the image of a team ready to fill the shoes of
the government at a moment’s notice.
As a result of these origins, neither party existed solely to look after the
interests of one particular group (although some groups in society were naturally
more attracted to one of the two parties than the other). Furthermore, although they
could be distinguished by certain broad differences in their outlooks on life, the
two parties did not exist to promote single, coherent political philosophies. The
main reason for their existence was to gain power by forming effective coalitions
of interest groups and individuals.
Although the Labour party was formed outside Parliament, and, as its name
implies, did exist to promote the interests of a particular group (the working class),
it soon fitted into the established framework. It is very difficult for smaller parties
to challenge the dominance of the bigger ones. If any of them seem to have some
good ideas, these ideas tend to be adopted by one of the three biggest parties, who
all try to appeal to as large a section of the population as possible.
The fact that the party system originated inside Parliament has other
consequences. Parties do not, as they do in many other countries, extend into every
area of public and social life in the country. Universities, for example, each have
their Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat clubs, but when there is an
election for officers of the student union, it is not normally fought according to
national party divisions. The same is true of elections within trade unions.
Another consequence is that it is usually a party's MPs who have the most
control over party policy and the biggest influence on the choice of party leader.
This does not mean that the parties are undemocratic. Their members who are not
MPs can have an effect on policy in a number of ways. First, they can make their
views known at the annual party conference. In the case of the three main parties,
this takes place in the autumn and lasts about a week. Second, the local party has
the power to decide who is going to be the party's candidate for MP in its area at
the next election. However, these powers are limited by one important
consideration - the appearance of unity. Party policies are always presented as
potential government policies, and a party's leading MPs are always presented as
potential ministers. If you want to look like a realistic potential government, you
don't want to show the public your disagreements. Party conferences are always
televised. As a result they sometimes tend to be showcases whose main purpose is
not so much to debate important matters as to boost the spirits of party members
and to show the public a dynamic, unified party. Similarly, if local party members
decide not to re-select the present MP as their candidate in an election, it betrays
disagreement and argument. Therefore, party members do not like this happening
and most MPs can be sure that their local party will choose them again at the next
election.
16
Word study
Rephrase the following words and word combinations, translate them from
English into Russian and use them in your own sentences describing the party
systems of the UK and Russia:
1. to receive legal recognition
2. to fill smb’s shoes
3. at a moment’s notice
4. to look after smb’s interests
5. a coherent philosophy
6. to fit into the established framework
7. to challenge smb’s dominance
8. to originate
9. to appeal to smb
10. to extend into every area of public life
Skimming Activities
Skim through the text and continue the following statements:
1. Britain is normally described as…
2. The reasons for the existence of a “two-party system” are…
3. The leader of the biggest party which is not in government receives the title…
4. Although the Labour Party was formed outside Parliament, it soon…
5. The powers of the main parties are limited by one important consideration…
6. It is very difficult for other smaller parties …
7. If a party wants to look like a realistic potential government…
Talking point
I. Work with the partner. Read the following sentences from the text. Answer
the questions:
1. The leader of the second biggest party chooses a “shadow cabinet”, thereby
presenting the image of the team ready to fill the shoes of the government at a
moment’s notice.
What is meant by “presenting the image of the team”?
2. The powers are limited by one important consideration – the appearance
of unity.
What is meant by “the appearance of unity’?
II. Nowadays many political scientists describe Britain as having a “two-anda-half” party system. What does it mean? In your opinion, how will the
situation evolve in the foreseeable future?
17
III. What type of party system best suits Russia? Give grounds and justify
your opinion.
Reading III (Additional)
The Workers' party? That's us, say Conservatives in bid to rebrand
They are two words David Cameron's ancestors would more often have put
together to describe a summer shindig for the employees on their estates.
But the words "Workers' party" will now be used to describe the Conservatives as
Cameron tries to rid the Tories of their image as the guardians of the rich.
Grant Shapps, the party chairman, will stand alongside Sir John Major, the
former champion of the "classless society", to announce that the Tories are now
determined to show they want to spread – and not defend – privilege.
Speaking at the new Conservative campaign headquarters, the Tory
chairman will say: "The Conservatives are the Workers' party and we are on your
side."
The name of the Workers' party has a long, if less than noble, history. It was
the moniker taken by former supporters of the Official IRA, which split from the
Provisional IRA in 1969, when they broke from paramilitarism in the 1970s.
Provisionals refer to the Officials as "stickies".
There is also the Trotskyist Socialist Workers' party, which rails against
capitalism in the west and used to campaign against the "state capitalism" of the
USSR.
The Tories are depicting themselves as the Workers' Party as they try to
reach out to blue collar workers. Tory strategists believe that the only way to win a
majority, by increasing the party's vote in the north of England and in the
Midlands, is by reaching out to voters who may see the Conservatives as the party
of the rich – hence the repositioning exercise.
Shapps has decided to go some way to accepting a proposal by the
campaigning backbench MP Robert Halfon for the Tories to rename themselves
the Workers' party. In a Sun article, Halfon said the party should replace its green
oak tree logo with a ladder.
The Tory chairman will keep the party's name but will then describe the
Conservatives in the next breath as the "Workers' party".
In his speech, extracts of which were released to the Daily Mail, Shapps will
say: "Sir John Major campaigned for what he called a 'classless society, and I
would argue this is the society we are fighting for in government today: a Britain
where it doesn't matter who your parents are, where you can go as far as your
talents and hard work will take you, and where work – rather than benefits – is
what pays."
In a sign of the impact of the Tories' general election campaign chief Lynton
Crosby, Shapps will release a five point pledge card modelled on the New Labour
pledge card of 1997 which sets out the ideas for Britain's "long term economic
plan".
18
The pledges, released to the Daily Mail, are: reducing the deficit, cutting
income tax and freezing fuel duty, backing small business to create more jobs,
capping welfare and reducing immigration; and delivering the best schools.
Shapps will say of Major: "Imagine a young kid growing up in inner city London –
just a few miles from here. His mum and dad are working, but not very rich, trying
to pay the bills.
"This young man was not particularly academic. He quit school at 16 and
struggled to get on. So let me ask you something: what did the Conservative Party
have to offer someone like that? I'll tell you. That young man's name is John
Major, and the Conservative Party made him Prime Minister … His life is a
symbol of our party. It shows whose side we are on."
The remarks by the Tory chair came as Downing Street did little to distance
itself from a report in the Daily Telegraph that Cameron will give an undertaking
during the general election campaign not to enter into another coalition even if he
falls short of an overall majority. A No 10 source said: "The prime minister has
made clear he is going all out for a Conservative majority."
Nicholas Watt, chief political correspondent The Guardian,
Tuesday 25 February 2014
Answer the following questions:
1. What Conservative leader was the first to stand for the “classless society”?
Why so?
2. How did the name “the Workers’ party” appear on the political scene of the
UK?
3. Why are the Conservatives trying to depict themselves as the Workers’ party
nowadays?
4. Does it seem to be a good idea to rebrand the Conservative party?
5. What are the election promises of the Conservative party? Do they appeal to
the electorate from all walks of life?
6. What is your opinion on the problem raised by the author in the article?
Express your own point of view.
19
Unit II
THE CROWN
Pre-reading guesses
I. Read the head of the unit. Analyze the concept of monarchy.
1. What words and phrases are related to ‘monarchy’?
2. Study the dictionary definitions of ‘monarchy’:
- Monarchy is a government in which a single person rules, with
powers varying from absolute dictatorship to the merely ceremonial.
MACMillan Dictionary
- Monarchy is a government having a hereditary chief of state with life
tenure and powers varying from nominal to absolute.
Webster’s New World College Dictionary
- Monarchy is the system in which a country is ruled by a king or
queen.
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
3. Underline the similarities and circle the differences.
4. In groups of three or four compare and contrast your notes. Discuss and report
back to the class the different points of view.
II. Answer the following questions:
1. What types of monarchy do you know? Speak about the distribution of power
in each type.
2. What does dynastic monarchy mean?
3. What does the concept constitutional monarchy mean?
4. What countries have abolished monarchy?
5. What are the most enduring monarchies of modern Europe?
6. Great Britain is a parliamentary democracy with a constitutional monarch
without a written constitution. What paradoxes do you see in the government
type of the country? How can you explain them?
7. How do you understand it that “the reigning monarch is not only the head of
state but also a symbol of the unity of the nation”?
8. Do you agree that the monarch in Great Britain is a politically important
figure?
III. Before reading the text do the following quiz:
Who was Royally Who?
1. Who is the head of state in the UK?
2. How many kings and how many queens have there been in Britain since 1066?
20
3. Who was the first king of England? What monarch started the Church of
England and why?
4. Who ruled Britain in the times of William Shakespeare?
5. When and why was the rule of monarchy broken in Britain? Who was the
country governed by then?
6. What monarch had the longest reign in Britain?
7. What monarch abdicated from the British throne in 1936 and why?
8. Since when has the present monarch been ruling Britain? Do you know the full
official title of the Queen?
9. Who is the current heir to the British throne?
Reading
Monarchy in Britain
Britain is a democracy, yet its people are not, as one might expect in a
democracy, constitutionally in control of the state. The constitutional situation is an
apparently contradictory one. As a result of a historical process, the people of
Britain are subjects of the Crown, accepting the Queen as the head of the state. Yet
even the Queen is not sovereign in any substantial sense since she receives her
authority from Parliament, and is subject to its direction in almost all matters. In
short, she “reigns” but doesn’t rule. Technically, if confusingly, British sovereignty
collectively resides in the three elements of Parliament: the Crown, and
Parliament’s two chambers: the House of Lords and the House of Commons.
The curious situation came about as a result of a long struggle for power
between the Crown and Parliament during the 16th and 17th centuries. In 1689
Parliament won the struggle, because it controlled most of the national wealth. It
agreed to allow the Crown to continue to function within certain limits, and subject
to Parliament’s control. No constitution was written down either then or since.
The state – itself sometimes called the Crown – operates on precedent,
custom and common sense and the British have traditionally felt uncomfortable
with a constitution based either on logic or theory.
The reigning monarch is not only the head of state but also a symbol of the
unity of the nation. The monarchy is Britain’s oldest secular institution, its
continuity for over 1000 years broken only once by a republic that lasted 11 years
(1649-1660). The monarchy is hereditary, the succession passing automatically to
the oldest child. By Act of Parliament the monarch must be a Protestant.
Succession is automatic on the death of the monarch, confirmed later by a formal
coronation ceremony.
In law the monarch is head of the executive and of the judiciary, Head of the
Church of England, Head of the British Commonwealth and Commander-in-Chief
of the Armed Forces. However, since 1689, the monarch’s sovereign powers have
been formally limited by the idea that national sovereignty resides in ‘the Crown in
Parliament’ – the idea that the Crown is only sovereign by the will of Parliament.
21
Ceremonial activities have long been associated with the monarchy. The
Queen formally opens the new session of Parliament each year, usually in October
or November. She is at times accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh. The
remaining ceremonial powers of the monarch are also to suspend parliament until
the next session and dissolve Parliament.
As constitutional monarch, the Sovereign is required, on the advice of
Ministers, to assent to all Bills issued by Parliament. The Royal Assent has not
been refused since 1707. The role of the Sovereign in the enactment of legislation
is purely formal today although the Queen has the right to be consulted, to
encourage and to warn.
The Queen retains certain residual powers, notably to appoint a Prime
Minister, and to decide whether or not to grant a dissolution of Parliament. These
days, however, the Queen’s influence is mainly informal. She has a right and a
duty to express her views on government matters to the Prime Minister at their
weekly audiences, but these meetings and all communications between the
Monarch and her Government remain confidential. The Queen is expected to be
impartial, or “above politics”.
The Queen’s role in the administration of justice is symbolic. By the
coronation oath, and by common law and various statutes, the Sovereign is
required to cause law and justice to be administered with mercy to every
individual. In the UK all jurisdiction derives from the Crown. In the area of law, as
in her other public actions, the Queen acts solely on the advice of her Ministers.
For example, the Queen appoints senior judges, she does so on the
recommendation of the Prime Minister. The prerogative of mercy is also exercised
on the advice of Ministers.
The Sovereign confers honours such as peerages, knighthoods and medals.
In practice, of course, with the exception of a few honours she is free to decide
herself, the monarch discharges all these functions on the direction of the
government. In most matters of state, the refusal of the Queen to exercise her
power according to the direction of her Prime Minister would risk a serious
constitutional crisis.
Nevertheless, the function of the monarch is politically important. The queen
is visited regularly by her Prime Minister to receive an account of Cabinet
decisions and to be consulted on matters of national life.
Word Study
I. Give definitions of the following words and illustrate their meaning in the
sentences of your own:
1. contradictory
2. to reign
3. secular
4. continuity
5. hereditary
6. succession
22
7. to assent
8. residual (powers)
9. impartial
10. mercy
III. From the list below match the verbs to the right definitions:
1. to be present in something
2. to officially order someone to come to a meeting
3. to formally end a parliament before an election
4. to use power or influence
5. to work in a particular way or for a particular purpose
6. to officially stop something from continuing, especially for a short time
7. to go from one person’s control to someone’s else
8. to do properly everything that is part of a particular duty
9. to officially give someone a title, etc., especially as a reward for something
they have achieved
10. to continue to have smth.
(to reside in, to operate on, to pass to, to summon, to suspend, to dissolve, to
retain, to confer, to discharge, to exercise)
After-reading questions:
1. Is Britain a completely democratic country?
2. Why is the Queen not sovereign in a substantial way?
3. Where does British sovereignty reside in?
4. What did the Parliament agree to allow the Crown to do in the 17th century?
5. How old is British monarchy?
6. When was monarchy broken?
7. How is monarchy inherited in Britain?
8. What are the ceremonial powers of the monarch?
9. What are the duties of the Queen in Parliament?
10. Why is the Queen expected to be impartial? In your opinion, why should the
Queen be “above politics”?
11. What is the monarch’s role in the administration of justice?
12. What would it lead to if the Queen refused to exercise her power according to
the direction of her Prime Minister?
Talking point
1. Is there a place for monarchies in the 21st century?
2. Should Britain have an elected head of state, like many other Western
democracies?
23
3. Are monarchies an unwelcome reminder of times when most people were
denied political rights and subject to arbitrary rule? Or are they a welcome
symbol of national traditions and social stability?
4. Are monarchies a cause for celebration?
5. Are monarchs nothing more than symbolic figureheads with little or no
influence?
6. Do you wish your country had a monarch?
Comment on the following statements:
1. Only monarchy can provide continuity, remaining constant in a country’s ever
changing national vision.
2. Monarchy adds dignity and historical relevance to all state occasions.
3. The monarchy unites us; the republic would divide us (Francesco Crispi).
24
Unit III
PARLIAMENT
Pre-reading guesses
Read the head of the unit. Analyze the concept of parliament.
1. What words and phrases are related to ‘parliament’?
2. Study the dictionary definitions of ‘parliament’
- An official elected group of people in some countries who meet to
make the laws of the country and discuss national issues;
- The main lawmaking institution in some countries;
MACMILLAN Dictionary
- An official or formal conference or council, usually concerned with
government or public affairs;
Webster’s New World College Dictionary
- A national representative body having supreme legislative powers
within the state;
American Heritage Dictionary
3. Underline the similarities and circle the differences.
4. Give your own definition of parliament.
5. In groups of three or four compare and contrast your notes. Discuss and report
back to the class the different points of view.
6. Compare your definition with the ones provided in the unit.
7. What role and functions are performed by parliament in a country?
Vocabulary in use
I. Study the following words and expressions related to the notion of
parliament, translate them into Russian:
1. a party list
2. deliberation
3. to be vested with smth.
4. legislative, law-making
5. a bill
6. the committee room
7. floor debate
8. a deliberative body
9. to debate a bill
10. to make and pass laws
11. the chief mechanism of representation
12. representation
13. to be initiated by
14. a reading
25
15. to provide checks and balances
16. to observe strict party discipline
17. to be introduced to smth.
18. to sign the bill into law
19. a Joint Committee
20. to reject a bill
21. to be submitted for signature/ to submit for signature
22. scrutiny
23. to override a bill
24. to veto a bill
25. to defeat/ to kill a bill
II. Fill in the gaps in the text below using the lexical units from the list above:
a.
b.
c.



Parliament
A parliament is a representative, consultative and ______ _____, a public
forum, in which government policies and major issues can be openly discussed and
analyzed.
The lower chamber, usually called the House, is the predominant one in
most assemblies. The upper chamber _____ _____ ___ _____ (a system of control
over the other chamber that creates a balance of power) constraining the power of
the lower chamber.
Key functions of Parliament
_____
Parliaments are supposed to represent society in all its diversity. A representative
assembly should serve as a link between government and the entire people.
Nowadays representation operates through parties, electors vote for _____ _____,
the party is the _____ _____ __ ______ , representatives are to _____ _____ _____
______ and vote with the party.
_____
Parliament are national debating chambers where vital public matters are
discussed. In some countries this function mainly takes the form of debate in the
chamber - _____ _____, in other countries it takes the form of policy debate in the
______ _____.
Legislation
Parliaments are _____ ___ legislative powers, the right to _____ ___ _____ _____.
Basic _____ and _____ procedures
A _____ [proposed law] _____ ___ the executive or a member of parliament is
_____ __ one of the houses.
The passing of the bill normally involves three _____ [debates] in the assembly,
during which the bill is _____, amended, _____ [thrown out] or ____/ _____.
After the first reading it is usually sent to a respective committee for detailed
_____ [consideration].
26
 After the third reading it goes to the second chamber where the same procedure is
repeated and the amended version is returned to the first chamber.
 If this amended version is rejected by the first chamber a _____ _____ is set up to
reconcile the both versions.
 The final version is _____ to the head of state ___ _____.
 The head of state may ____ _ _____ ___ _____ or may _____ ___.
 The parliament may _____ the veto by a two thirds majority vote in both
chambers.
Summarize the main ideas of the text; make up a short speech ‘The Nature of
parliaments, their main functions’ (15 sentences, with the use of Active
Vocabulary).
III. Study the following lexical units, be ready to explain their meanings, make
up examples of your own with them:
1. to dissolve, to dismiss a parliament
2. to convene, convoke a parliament
3. to stand for parliament/ to run for parliament
4. a hung parliament
5. parliamentary elections
6. parliamentary majority/ minority
7. parliamentary opposition
8. parliamentary representation
9. parliamentary session
10. accountability to smb./smth.
11. to be accountable to smb.
12. to hold smb. accountable
13. members of parliament (MPs), congressmen, representatives, deputies, senators
14. legislators, law-makers
Reading I
Pre-reading activities
Pronunciation
Consult the dictionary to check the pronunciation of the following words and
word-combinations
1. Westminster
2. supremacy
3. bicameral
4. component
5. Anglophone
6. assent
7. variable
8. the Lords Spiritual
27
9. Hereditary Peers
10. senior
11. deputy
12. resignation
13. constituency
14. to scrutinize
15. constituents
Reading
Read the following text and answer these questions:
1. When was the British Parliament created?
2. What are the three components of the British Legislature?
3. What are the main functions of each of the constituents?
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland, commonly known as the British Parliament, is the supreme legislative
body in the United Kingdom. It is located in Westminster, London. Parliament
possesses legislative supremacy. At its head is the Sovereign.
The parliament is bicameral, with an upper house, the House of Lords, and a
lower house, the House of Commons. The Queen is the third component of the
legislature.
The Parliament of Great Britain was formed in 1707 following the
ratification of the Treaty of Union by both the Parliament of England and
Parliament of Scotland passing Acts of Union. It has been called ‘the mother of
parliaments’, its democratic institutions having set the standards for many
democracies throughout the world. Thus, the UK Parliament is the largest
Anglophone legislative body in the world.
In theory, supreme legislative power is vested in the Queen-in-Parliament. In
practice in modern times, real power is vested in the House of Commons, as the
Sovereign generally acts on the Advice of the Prime Minister, and the powers of
the House of Lords have been limited.
Composition and Powers
The legislative authority, the Crown-in-Parliament, has three separate
elements: the Monarch, the House of Lords, and the House of Commons. No
individual may be a member of both Houses, and members of the House of Lords
are legally barred from voting in elections for the members of the House of
Commons.
The British Monarch has all authority, but no power. The sovereign appoints
the Prime Minister, and every year opens the sessions of Parliament, in a historical
and ritual ceremony called the State Opening of Parliament.
The second major function of the Sovereign is to sign new laws passed by
Parliament.
28
The last major function of the Sovereign – in the parliamentary context – is
his or her weekly meeting with the Prime Minister. By tradition, the latter informs
the Sovereign, who is the head of state, about important affairs of state and
government business, and asks the Sovereign for his or her advice.
The House of Lords consists of about 750 members (a variable number). The
Lords are basically divided into 2 large groups of Lords Temporal and Lords
Spiritual. The lords Temporal comprise Life peers and Hereditary peers. The latter
ones inherit their titles from the ancestors, from the ‘nobility’ of the UK. There are
about 96 of them. Life peers are mostly former members of the House of
Commons, or former senior officials, judges, or former business leaders or trade
union leaders: each government and opposition party has the right, each year, to
propose new Life peers. The Lords Spiritual are represented by 26 Bishops of the
Anglican Church.
The House of Lords cannot block bills proposed by the Government in the
House of Commons, and can only delay some bills. Actually, this prerogative is
rarely used, only in exceptional cases, for the Lords to act against the wishes of an
elected government would be constitutionally unacceptable.
The essential role of the House of Lords is to discuss non-controversial
subjects.
In 2012 the Cameron Government proposed to change the status of the
House of Lords, making it into a largely elected chamber, but the proposal does not
terribly interest in the British public.
The House of Commons is the main House of the British Parliament. It is
composed of 650 members (Members of Parliament or MPs) elected by universal
suffrage. The life of Parliament is 5 years.
According to an ancient tradition, MPs are elected by universal suffrage
under a system of relative majority in one round of voting. This means that the
candidate with the most votes in an election is elected, whether or not she has an
absolute majority of votes.
Elected MPs do not have a deputy, so in the event of the death, resignation
or removal of an MP, a ‘by-election’ must be called. Each MP represents a
territory, or constituency; the link between an MP and his constituency is
symbolically and historically very important, and in the House of Commons,
members are not called by their name, but by the name of the constituency, from
which they have been elected (or, if they are government ministers, by their
function).
The Chairman of the House of Commons is known as the ‘Speaker’, and he
or she presides over each parliamentary session, deciding who can speak.
All legislation must be passed by the House of Commons to become law.
Besides, it controls taxation and the supply of the money to the government.
Government ministers (including the Prime Minister) must regularly answer
questions in the House of Commons. Moreover, there are a number of select
committees that scrutinize particular issues and the workings of the government.
These are also mechanisms that allow members of the House of Commons to bring
to the attention of the government particular issues affecting their constituents.
29
Word study
I. Study the following notions related to the British Parliament, be ready to
explain each of them, consult additional reliable sources for more exact
information if necessary. Use these lexical units in the examples of your own.
1. legislative supremacy
2. the Queen-in-Parliament
3. Lords Temporal
4. Lords Spiritual
5. Life peers
6. Hereditary peers
7. the House of Commons
8. the House of Lords
II. Find in the text English equivalents of the following words and wordcombinations, restore the context of their use.
1. конституционно недопустимый
2. верховный законодательный орган
3. контролировать налогообложение
4. отставка
5. обладать законодательным превосходством
6. получить королевскую санкцию
7. заместитель
8. вопросы, не вызывающие разногласий
9. тщательно следить за работой правительства
10. перевыборы
11. выбираться всеобщим избирательным правом
12. оказывать значительное влияние на составляющие части
III. Look through the following definitions, find in the text the words or
phrases, corresponding to them. Use them in the examples of your own.
1. a right that smn. has, especially because of their importance or social position;
2. consisting of two parts, Chambers, Houses;
3. the fact of being forced out of an important position or dismissed from a job;
4. to be in a position of authority at a time when important things are happening;
5. to be officially prevented from entering a place or from doing smth;
6. to reject a written proposal for a new law, which is brought to a parliament so
that it can be discussed;
7. one of 650 geographical areas in the UK, into which it is divided for electoral
purposes;
8. smn who is directly below another person in rank, and who is officially in
charge when that person is not there;
9. to suspend written proposals for new laws.
IV. Match the words to make collocations:
30
1. to block
2. the supreme
3. to be constitutionally
4. to control
5. to be elected by
6. to scrutinize
7. to delay
8. to possess
9. to be legally
10. to affect
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
j.
taxation
the workings of the government
legislative supremacy
barred
bills
legislative authority
constituents
universal suffrage
bills
unacceptable
After-reading questions
1. What is the role of the British Parliament in the political life of the country?
2. Where is it situated?
3. What does Parliament possess?
4. Who is it headed by?
5. What is the structure of this legislative authority?
6. Why has it been called ‘the mother of parliaments’?
7. What is the supreme legislative power vested in, theoretically and practically?
8. What are the conditions of being a member of any of the two Houses?
9. What is peculiar about the position of the British Monarch in Parliament?
10. What are his/ her main functions in the parliamentary context?
11. There are 3 categories of Lords in the upper House, aren’t there?
12. Do Life peers inherit their titles from their noble ancestors?
13. The Lords Spiritual are the same as Law Lords, aren’t they?
14. What are the power of the Lords limited to?
15. How does this fact affect the role of this constituent in Parliament?
16. What makes the Commons the main House of the British Parliament?
17. How are the British MPs traditionally elected?
18. Do MPs have deputies? What does it mean?
19. How are they addressed?
20. Who is the Commons chaired by?
21. What functions does the lower chamber perform?
Speaking
Make up the summary of the text, using Active Vocabulary.
1. the supreme legislative authority
2. to possess legislative supremacy
3. to be legally barred
4. to receive royal assent
5. to block/ delay bills
6. prerogative
31
7. to be constitutionally unacceptable
8. to be elected by universal suffrage
9. resignation
10. by-election
11. to control taxation
12. to scrutinize the workings of the government
Talking Point
In groups of 3 or 4 discuss the following statements, which of them do you
agree with, report your opinion to the rest of the group
1. A Parliament is nothing less than a big meeting of more or less idle people.
2. The real political life in Russia unfortunately is not in the parliament but on the
streets and in the media.
3. Parliament will train you to talk; and above all things to hear, with patience,
unlimited quantities of foolish talk.
Prepare the monologue ‘The UK Parliament. Its role and functions in the
country’s political life’.
Reading II
Informative reading
Legislative functions and relationship with the government
Parliament meets in the Palace of Westminster. Laws can be made by Acts
of the United Kingdom Parliament. While some Acts can apply to the whole of the
UK including Scotland, due to the continuing separation of Scots law, many Acts
do not apply to Scotland. They are either matched by equivalent Acts that apply to
Scotland alone or, since 1999, by legislation set by the Scottish Parliament relating
to devolved matters. This has led to a paradox known as the West Lothian
question.
Each Bill goes through several stages in each House. The first stage, called
the first reading, is a formality. At the second reading the general principles of the
bill are debated. The House may vote to reject the bill, by not passing the motion
‘That the Bill be now read a second time’. Defeats of Government Bills are
extremely rare, the last was in 2005.
Following the second reading, the bill is sent to a committee. A committee
considers the bill clause by clause, and reports the bill as amended to the House for
further detailed consideration.
Once the House has considered the bill, the third stage follows. In the House
of Commons no further amendments may be made, and the passage of the motion
‘That the Bill be now read third time’ is the passage of the whole bill. If passed in
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identical form by both Houses, the Bill may be presented for the Sovereign’s
Assent. If one House passes amendments that the other will not agree to, and the
two Houses cannot resolve their disagreements, the bill fails.
Relationship with the Government
The British Government is answerable to the House of Commons. However,
neither the Prime Minister nor the members of the Government are elected by the
House of Commons.
Parliament controls the executive by passing or rejecting its Bills and by
forcing Ministers of the Crown to answer for their actions either at ‘Question
Time’ or during meetings of the parliamentary committees. In both cases,
Ministers are asked questions by the members of the Houses, and are obliged to
answer.
In practice, the House of Commons’ scrutiny of the Government is very
weak. Since the first-past-the-post electoral system is employed in elections, the
governing party tends to enjoy a large majority in the Commons; there is often
limited need to compromise with other parties. Modern British political parties are
so tightly organized that they relatively little room for free action by their MPs. In
many cases, MPs may be expelled from their parties for voting against the
instructions of party leaders. During the 20th century, the Government has lost
confidence issues only 3 times – twice in 1924, and once in 1979.
Pronunciation
Note the pronunciation of the following words
paradox
Lothian
committee
identical
the Sovereign’s Assent
scrutiny
Word study
I. Explain the meanings of the following notions, if necessary refer to reliable
sources:
1. the West Lothian Question
2. the Sovereign’s Assent
3. the first-past-the-post electoral system
4. confidence issues
II. Define the following lexical units, use them in the examples of your own:
1. to apply to
2. devolved matters
33
3.
4.
5.
6.
the motion
to be answerable to smb./ smth.
to be tightly organized
to be expelled from
III. Translate these words and phrases into Russian, restore the context of
their use:
1. to consider the bill clause by clause
2. detailed consideration
3. to be presented for the Sovereign’s Assent
4. to resolve disagreements
5. to enjoy a large majority
6. limited need for compromise
7. to leave little room for free action
8. to lose confidence issues
IV. Fill in the gaps, using the words from the exercises above:
1. Only after a committee _____ ___ _____ __ _____, is the amended bill
reported to the House for _____ _____.
2. The bill is _____ ___ _____ _____ providing it has been _____ by the Houses.
3. The bill is killed if the two Houses fail to _____ ___ _____.
4. The party in power _____ _____ _____ in the Commons due to ___-___-______ _____ _____ being employed in elections. Hence it causes _____ _____
__ _____ with other parties.
5. One of the peculiarities of modern British political parties is their being _____
_____, which _____ little _____ ___ _____ _____ by their MPs.
Skimming Activities
I. Continue the following ideas using Active Vocabulary:
1. A paradox known as the West Lothian question implies …
2. At the second stage the House may …
3. A committee is in charge of …
4. The whole bill is passed in case …
5. The bill is presented for the Sovereign’s Assent when …
6. The bill is defeated if …
7. Parliament exercises control over the executive by …
8. At ‘Question Time’ or during meetings of parliamentary committees Ministers
are…
9. The House of Commons’ scrutiny of the Government is very weak because …
10. MPs’ expulsion from their parties can be caused by …
II. Answer the following questions:
1. Do all Acts made by the UK Parliament apply to its parts?
2. What are the Acts usually matched by?
34
3. How many stages does a bill go through?
4. What happens at each of them?
5. Have bills ever been rejected?
6. What functions does a committee perform?
7. What is necessary for the bill to be presented for the Sovereign’s Assent?
8. Why can the bill fail?
9. What powers does Parliament possess in relation to the Government?
10. At what occasions are Ministers of the Crown answerable to Parliament for
their actions?
11. Does Parliament gain much scrutiny of the Government’s workings?
12. What are the reasons for this phenomenon?
13. Have there been frequent cases when the Government lost confidence issues?
Speaking
Use the following lexical nits to summarize the main ideas of the discussed
text:
1. devolved matters
2. the West Lothian question
3. to consider the bill clause by clause
4. detailed consideration
5. to be presented for the Sovereign’s Assent
6. the first-past-the-post electoral system
7. to enjoy a large majority
8. limited need for compromise
9. to be tightly organized
10. to leave little room for free action
11. to be expelled from
12. to lose confidence issues
Culture Quiz
You are welcome to do this Culture Quiz to assess your knowledge of the UK
Parliament. Consult additional sources if necessary.
Question1: What is the actual name of London's Houses of Parliament?
(a) The Palace of Westminster (b) The Chambers of Westminster
(c) The Courts of Westminster
Question2: In which year were the Houses of Parliament that stand today completed?
(a) 1670 (b) 1770 (c) 1870
Question3: Who is the United Kingdom's Head of State?
(a) The Queen (b) The Prime Minister (c) The Archbishop of Canterbury
Question4: The British Parliament is made up of the 'House of Lords' and the 'House of
Commons'. Which one of the following statements is true?
(a) Only the members of the House of Lords are elected by the public.
(b) Only the members of the House of Commons are elected by the public.
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(c) All the members of both Houses are elected by the public.
Question5: What is the formal title of the Minister who is responsible for the British
Government's financial and economic matters?
(a) Chancellor of the Bank of England
(b) Chancellor of the Budget
(c) Chancellor of the Exchequer
Question6: Every year, the Chancellor (mentioned in Question 5) famously takes his budget
plans to parliament in a ..... ?
(a) wooden chest (b) red leather case (c)armouredconvoy
Question7: 'Whips' are the names of particular officials in a political party. One purpose of
whips is to ensure that ....?
(a) elections are carried out fairly
(b) MPs support their party on important votes
(c) the Houses of Parliament are safe from intruders
Question8: According to UK law, a general election must be held every .... ?
(a) 3 years (b) 4 years (c) 5 years
Question9: A 'green paper' is the name of a government document which is usually the first
step in creating or changing government policy. What is issued in response to a
green paper?
(a) A white paper (b) A red paper (c) A yellow paper
Question10: What is the name of the senior officer in the House of Lords who is responsible
for maintaining order in the House and controlling access?
(a) Black Rod (b) Silver Rod (c) Gold Rod
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Unit IV
THE REFORM OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS
Pre-reading activities
Discussions on parliamentary reform started in the second half of the XIXth
century and have been conducted since then. It seems that at the turn of the XXth –
XXIst centuries this debate has reached its climax, triggering drastic reforms in
Parliament.
Read the following quotations and comment on them. Whose point of view do
you agree with? Why has the House of Lords Reform become one of the top
priorities of the British internal policy?
"It's crucial that the House of Commons endorses Lords reform now to ensure that
the first members of the second chamber are elected in 2015. What's more, most
MPs stood in the last election on a platform promising to do precisely that; all three
main political parties promised democratic reform of the House of Lords in their
last party manifestos."
Unlock Democracy June 2012
"Electing the second chamber is not self-evidently the democratic option – by
dividing accountability it can undermine the capacity of the people to hold
government to account (since policies may emerge for which it is not directly
responsible) and can sweep away the very benefits that the present system
delivers."
Lord Norton March 2012
Listening
Listen to the opinion of Dr Mark Elliot, a Senior Lecturer in Law at the
University of Cambridge and a Fellow of St Catharine’s College on the reform
of the House of Lords. In his speech he assesses the House of Lords Reform
Bill, arguing that a commitment to democracy does not necessarily require an
elected House of Lords – and that the debate about reforming the upper
chamber must take due account of the wider institutional and constitutional
framework.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dH8bvwY3TJY
Answer the following questions:
1. Why was the House of Lords reform enacted?
2. Did the British support the reform in 2012?
3. What are the two difficulties that people face during the debates over the
reform?
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4. What is the current composition of the Upper Chamber of the British
Parliament?
5. What are the two crucial powers of the House of Lords?
6. Does the House of Lords have equal powers with the House of Commons?
7. What is the essence of the Reform Bill?
8. Will the changes proposed by the Bill reduce or enhance the efficiency of the
chamber?
9. Are the changes needed to make the House of Lords acceptable and legitimate?
10. What are the main obstacles on the way of reforming the House of Lords?
Pronunciation
Consult the dictionary to check the pronunciation of the following words and
word combinations:
scrutinize
extensive expertise
to wield
to veto legislation
peerage
life peers
hereditary peers
lords spiritual
lords temporal
primacy
descendant
to dissolve
controversy
overwhelmingly
Reading I
Read the following text and say how the powers of the Upper Chamber of the
British Parliament have altered since its creation.
The House of Lords is the second chamber of Parliament and is also called
the Upper Chamber. As it is an unelected element of Parliament, it does not have
the same powers as the House of Commons, but it retains the right to revise and
scrutinize the Government’s actions and legislation. Its independent mind and
extensive expertise form a crucial check on the power of the executive in
Parliament but it is much more likely to wield this power by asking Ministers to
reconsider the matter than to veto whole pieces of legislation.
The current composition of the House comprises 786 members of the House
of Lords. 671 of these are life peers, 90 are hereditary peers (collectively known as
Lords Temporal), and 26 are senior bishops from the Church of England, or Lords
38
Spiritual. So the members of the chamber derive the right to sit in the House from
different sources. The majority of peers are appointed by the Queen on the
recommendation of the Prime Minister or of the House of Lords Appointments
Commission.
The Law Lords, appointed to the House of Lords under the Appellate
Jurisdiction Act 1876, sat in the upper chamber until July 2009. The judicial
functions of the Lords were transferred to the Supreme Court established under the
Constitutional Reform Act 2005. The Law Lords became justices of the Supreme
Court in October 2009.
Background
Historically, the power of the Lords, who were the representatives of the
landed interests, was greater than that of Commons, but as democratic ideals took
root in the UK, its power has gradually been eroded.
The primacy of the Commons was explicitly stated by the Parliament Act
1911, which compelled the Lords to approve financial legislation, and the
Parliament Act 1949, which removed the Lords’ power of veto over laws.
Today the debate about the Reform of the House of Lords refers to its
composition rather than its powers. Until 1958 with the exception of the Law
Lords and Bishops, the right to sit in the Lords derived from membership of the
hereditary nobility. The 1958 Act introduced a new type of member: the Life Peer.
They sit in the House for life but their rights are not passed on to their descendants.
Although the growing number of life peers diluted the hereditary basis of
Lords membership, the House of Lords Act 1999 all but dissolved it. The Act
removed the rights of all but 92 hereditary peers to sit in the Lords. This “Stage 1”
reform remains a compromise that the government is committed to changing by
removing the remaining hereditary peers. Since that time a great number of
attempts have been made to reach a consensus and overcome all obstacles and
hurdles on the way of making the house more democratic but all the efforts have
been fruitless so far.
Controversies
The principal controversy regarding the House of Lords reform revolves
around what should replace the hereditary basis of the Upper Chamber. A number
of options were put forward for the future composition of the House, ranging from
fully appointed to fully elected, with a series of compromise in between.
The opponents of a fully appointed Chamber warn that it would put too
much powering the hands of those making the appointments. The opponents of a
fully elected Chamber warn that democratic mandate of an elected House would
undermine the primacy of the Commons and might lead to legislative deadlock.
The proponents of a reformed House argue variously in favour of the
appointment or election of regional representatives of sectional, community and
cultural groups, as a means of improving the representative character of the House
while distinguishing it from the Commons. Some continue to argue for its abolition
outright.
39
The publication in 2007 of a white paper on the House of Lords reform was
followed by a free vote on both Houses on the composition of the second Chamber.
The Commons voted overwhelmingly for a fully elected House of Lords. The peers
themselves, however, voted in favour of a fully appointed House. A compromise
was not reached.
The House of Lords Reform Bill announced in the Queen’s Speech on 9
May 2012 provides for elected members of the House of Lords to be voted in by a
different electoral system to the House of Commons (on a proportional basis). The
size of the Upper House would also be reduced substantially under the Bill and
membership of the Lords would no longer be linked to the acceptance of a peerage.
Word Study
I. Find in the text English equivalents of the following words and word
combinations. Use them in the sentences of your own.
1. охранить право –
2. рассматривать и пристально изучать –
3. получать право от –
4. быть назначенным на пост –
5. по рекомендации –
6. передаваться наследникам –
7. средство усиления представительной функции Парламента –
8. упразднение –
9. преимущественно –
II. Explain the meaning of the following notions. Give as much information as
possible.
1. Lords Spiritual
2. Lords Temporal
3. Life peers
4. Hereditary peers
5. Lord Chancellor
6. Proportional representation
7. Law Lords
8. Lord Speaker
III. Match the words with their definitions:
1. to wield power
2. to erode (about power)
3. primacy
4. to dissolve (about
Parliament)
5. controversy
a. dispute, argument, debate
b. somebody who argues in favour of something
c. supremacy, the state of being first
d. to exert or maintain
e. to remove
f. to refuse to allow smth. to happen
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6. proponent
7. to veto
g. to dismiss
IV. Fill in the gaps with the words from the Word Study section.
1. The House of Lords is supposed to be reformed in the near future, however,
…of the House of Commons over the Lords should be …. .
2. … are members of the House of Lords who are … by the Monarch and can’t …
their title to their descendants.
3. The functions of the Monarch include opening parliamentary sessions and …
it.
4. Lacking …, the House of Lords still performs important legislative functions: it
… and … the Government’s actions and legislation, as well as can … the bill
passed by the Commons.
5. Despite all the attempts to come to a consensus on the issue of the reform some
irreconcilable … between the opponents and … of the reform still take place.
After-reading activities
I. Complete the following sentences:
1. Being an unelected element of the British Parliament, the House of Lords…..
2. Under the Constitutional Reform Act 2005 the judicial functions of the
Lords…..
3. Originally the Lords represented…..
4. Until 1958 the right to sit in the House of Lords…..
5. The House of Lords Act 1999…..
6. A great number of attempts have been made so far to…..
7. To improve the representative character of the House of Lords the proponents
of a reformed House suggest…..
II. Answer the following questions:
1. Do the two houses of the British Parliament have the same powers?
2. What are the functions of the House of Lords confined to?
3. What groups of peers does the current composition of the House comprise?
4. Who are the majority of peers appointed by?
5. Does the House of Lords perform any judicial functions at present?
6. Why has the power of the House of Lords been eroded?
7. What broad changes in the power of the Upper Chamber were introduced in
the first half of the XXIst century?
8. Who are life peers? When was the title introduced?
9. Why can the House of Lords Act 1999 be called a landmark one in the history
of the British Parliament in general and the House of Lords in particular?
10. What does the principal controversy regarding the House of Lords reform
consist in?
11. Was a compromise between the two houses of the British Parliament over the
41
issue of the House of Lords composition reached in 2007?
12. What prospects for the future development of the chamber were mentioned in
the Queen’s speech in 2012?
Speaking
Make up the summary of the text speaking about the essence of the House of
Lords Reform. Use the following expressions:
1. to retain the right
2. to scrutinize and revise the Government’s actions
3. to transfer the judicial functions to the Supreme Court
4. to remove the Lords’ power of veto over laws
5. to put forward options for the composition of the House
6. to range from … to…
7. to improve the representative character of the House of Lords
8. to be voted by proportional representation
9. not to be linked to the acceptance of a peerage
Talking Point
“The Changing Role of the Lord Chancellor”
The Lord Chancellor of Great Britain, or Lord Chancellor, is a senior and
important functionary in the government of the United Kingdom. He is the second
highest ranking of the Great Officers of State, ranking only after the Lord Steward.
The Lord Chancellor is appointed by the Sovereign on the advice of the Prime
Minister.
The Lord Chancellor is a member of the Cabinet and, by law, is responsible
for the efficient functioning and independence of the courts. Formerly he was also
the presiding officer of the House of Lords, and the head of the judiciary.
However, the Reform Act 2005 marked drastic changes in the powers and
functions of the official.
Using information given on the Internet, find answers to the following
questions, share the information with your group-mates:
You may use the following links:
http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Lord_Chancellor
http://www.parliament.uk/about/mps-and-lords/principal/lord-chancellor/
https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/secretary-of-state-for-justice
1. What were the main duties of the Lord Chancellor before the Reform Act
2005?
2. Why was the issue of conducting the reform of the office of the Lord
Chancellor raised? Why was Great Britain accused of being “undemocratic”?
42
3. What important functions are performed by the Lord Chancellor at present?
4. How will the reform of the office impact on the efficiency of the British state
system?
Writing
Write an essay on the following topic “The office of the Lord Chancellor. The
impact of the reform on the efficiency of the British state system. ”
Reading II
“The Pros and Cons of the House of Lords Reform”
Pre-reading activities
I. Read the following opinions of the British concerning the prospects of the
House of Lords reform:
- “How can true democracy exist when the majority of people who work for
a living are represented by individuals who have never known the strife
and turmoil of real life?”
- Andrew, Swansea
- “The House of Lords is a club for unelected politicians and has no
connection with real life. The church has no right to represent the public.”
Anon
- “Anyone who wields power, anyone who can affect the laws that we all
have to obey, must be approved by those that they govern for their power
to be of any legitimacy at all”
Ed Northampton
- “The system of “appointees” is obviously open to party political
corruption and favouritism”
Anthony B. Kent
- “No other country in the world has an unelected law-making body; it is
backward and does not help bring confidence in our government”
Beka, London
II. Discuss the following questions in groups of 3 or 4. Share your ideas with
the class:
1. What arguments for the House of Lords reform are mentioned by the
respondents?
2. What other arguments for the reform of the upper chamber of British
Parliament could you give?
3. What counterarguments might the opponents of the reform give?
43
Reading
Read the text about the pros and cons of the reformed House of Lords and
compare the arguments pro and contra the reform with the ideas of yours.
The House of Lords is seen by some as an antiquated addition to the
government structure, a mockery of modern democracy and an inhibiting influence
in the drive for progress. Whir the function of a second chamber is recognized as
beneficial as it ensures checks and balances on the activity of the House of
Commons, the composition of its members reflects a society long past, a reminder
of a time when equality was not a social aspiration. New Labour’s first stage of
reform in 1999 did some work to reduce hereditary peers in the House of Lords,
but since then the gradual phasing in of reforms that was proposed has failed to
materialize. Many advocates of democracy and the right of law are now calling for
these reforms to be completed, to abolish members of birth right and to introduce
an electorally voted body to ensure that the House of Lords is as fully democratic
as the rest of the country claims to be. Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg
presented the House of Lords Reform Draft Bill and the accompanying White
Paper to Parliament on 17 May 2011. It proposed reform to a smaller, 80%-elected
House with 15-year maximum terms for elected peers. Whether or not this bill will
be met with enthusiasm, apathy or disdain, and whether or not it will prove to the
greater good of the House of Lords and government of Britain is yet to be seen.
Points for the Reform
1. The current House of Lords is undemocratic.
Point
Currently the members of the House of
Lords consist of hereditary peers,
senior members of the Church of
England and those appointed by
political parties. Whether or not there
is an abuse of power or the outcome of
the House of Lords is beside the point
– its very existence in its current state
is undemocratic, so it should be
reformed. It seems nonsensical that a
country that lectures to the rest of the
world the importance of democracy, to
the point of war, should overlook such
a grievance in their own society.
Counterpoint
Although the House of Lords may not be
a true expression of “democracy”, it has a
positive function in the governing of the
country and is based in a tradition and
heritage that the people of Britain should
not try and abandon. One could argue in
return that those very decisions and wars
that Britain is involved in to defend
“democracy” do not reflect the will of the
people and that modern states are not true
democracies at all. In practice the British
people have a limited say in how the
country is run and it would be naïve to
champion the ides of Britain being a
“democracy” by ignoring the existence of
such an overpowering state machine.
44
2. The House of Lords is out of touch with the electorate. It is nonrepresentative.
Point
The 19 th century US President
Abraham Lincoln stated that democracy
should be “Government of the people,
by the people and for the people”.
Therefore peers who sit in the house
based on noble birth right or their
membership of the Church of England
do not represent the people of Britain.
Although a small number of members of
the House of Lords are industry experts
the fact remains that there is still a
proportion of hereditary peers, which
guarantees no expertise. Furthermore
political parties can elect peers which is
simply absurd, parties should not be
able to appoint their own watch dogs.
Counterpoint
The House of Lords may not be
representative of the British population
but instead they represent an array of
educated experts who can give informed
advice on Government policy. While the
members of the House of Lords may
represent a small section of society, they
also include expert peers, such as
lawyers, scientists, businesspeople,
academics, doctors and civil servants
that can balance out the political
opportunism present in the House of
Commons. Election does not guarantee
this expertise, so having a second
chamber that is appointed rather than
elected improves the quality of the
governance of the country.
3. The House of Lords has an inbuilt conservative majority.
Points
Peers are known to be conservative in
their outlook. They represent a social
and economic elite and seem to flaunt
diversity monitoring in a house with a
small number of female peers ant those
from ethnic minorities. Thus unfair
skew in the favour of the conservative
has the power to slow down and revise
legislation
and
is
a
gross
misrepresentation of the British
population. The House should be
reformed in order to better reflect the
British people so that their actions and
decisions benefit the whole of society
and not just their own.
45
Counterpoints
The accusation that the House is
inherently conservative is unjust. Today
no party has a majority in the Chamber,
with independent peers holding the
balance of power in any vote.
4. Reform would strengthen the House of Lords.
Points
Reform of the House of Lords would strengthen
the legitimacy of the house and therefore
improve its functions. By electing the second
chamber they would gain the legitimacy to not
simply stall bills but reject them all together or
draft bills of their own, thus facilitating a more
dynamic government, able to change. Using a
different electoral technique, e.g. Proportional
Representation with members sitting for longer
periods would allow them to still be of a different
composition to the House of Commons and not
sway to short-term political popularity. Electing
different portions at different times would also
guard against a freak landslide result affecting
the House’s balance. By creating a worthy
opposition to the House of Commons all burning
issues would be debated and resolved more fairly
and government would be more closely
monitored.
Counterpoints
House of Lords reform defeats
the point; firstly the election
process would deter many
industry experts and attract
political opportunists instead,
thus eliminating the current
worth of the House of Lords. It
is likely that if elected the
House of Lords would simply
become a mirror for the House
of Commons. By being nonelected the House of Lords is
free from political sways and
can work in the long-term
interests of the country.
Word Study
Give definitions to the following words and word combinations from the text.
Restore the context in which they were used:
1. antiquated addition
2. a mockery of democracy
3. inhibiting influence
4. advocates of democracy
5. apathy
6. disdain
7. abuse of power
8. to overlook smth.
9. to have a limited say in smth.
10. to champion an idea
11. to flaunt
12. skew
13. to stall bills
14. to be free from political sways
46
Talking Point
Discuss the following questions in groups of 3 or 4. Share your ideas with the
class:
1. What are the weak and strong points of having an unelected upper house?
2. Why have all the attempts of reforming the House of Lords been unsuccessful
so far?
3. What are the possible changes in the structure of the House of Lords? Will the
reform be completed?
Project work
Imagine that you are members of the commission responsible for working out
the project of the House of Lords reform. Prepare a presentation on the topic.
While preparing consider the following issues:
1. the changes in the structure of the House;
2. the benefits of the new chamber;
3. the impact of the reform on the efficiency of the decision-making process upon
the whole and the work of the Upper Chamber of the British Parliament in
particular.
You may choose from the options given below or work out other alternatives:
Abolition
Many legislatures, such as the parliaments of Sweden, Denmark and New Zealand
( and within UK, the Scottish Parliament, the Welsh Assembly and the Northern
Ireland Assembly) are unicameral, and do not have an upper house. Instead
scrutiny is carried out by parliamentary committees.
Allotment/sortition
Allotment is selection by lot. Proposals vary from a House chosen completely at
random from the whole electorate to those where allotment was applied to smaller
groups such as those volunteering or those selected in another way.
Appointment
The main advantages of the fully appointed house include: achieving a range of
representation, bringing in those with skills and experience, ensuring a continuity
of membership; maintaining the status and independence of the Lords without
endangering the supremacy of the Commons; maintaining the low cost of the
present House and preventing the possibility of a constitutional clash between
appointed and elected members.
Combination
By far the most commonly suggested proposal for reform amongst politicians is a
combination of an elected and appointed House. Proponents suggest the
combination would allow an appointed element to retain the skills and experience
47
of the present House and elections would make it democratic without the problems
of being fully elected which would allow the Upper House to challenge the
primacy of the Commons.
Democratic appointments
Under this proposal, a jury would some or all members of the chamber so retaining
the skills and experience of the present House and also making its selection more
democratic.
Election
Many countries have directly elected Upper Chambers but they try to make their
electoral systems for the second chamber as distinct as possible from the first
chamber by holding elections on a different cycle or electing only a proportion of
members on each occasion.
Heredity
A large number of hereditary peers were crossbenchers with a wide range of
interests outside politics – a valuable asset to Parliament. A hereditary right, which
passes across the generations, may have the benefit of encouraging a longer-term
perspective but this is perhaps at the expense of creating a divisive society.
Moreover, in practice, the hereditary Peers have a natural bias on many issues.
Indirect election/ appointment
About 30 % of overseas second chambers are elected by indirect methods. The
electoral college often consists of members of local authorities, or regional
assemblies, and may include members of the primary chamber.
Secondary mandate
A system in which the share of each party’s votes at general election is aggregated
and each party is allocated a number of places proportionally using a closed list
system. The advantages of this system consist in the fact that there would be only
one election campaign to fund, it does not waste votes because votes for minority
parties will count in the Upper House and so it should improve voter turnout, and
as the upper house has no direct vote it has no separate mandate and so the
Commons will remain supreme.
Speaking
Prepare a monologue on the following topic: “The Reform of the House of
Lords, its Pros and Cons.”
Rendering
Find articles in the current press concerning the reform of the House of Lords
and render them using the vocabulary from the unit.
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Unit V
GOVERNMENT
Pre-reading guesses
Read the head of the unit. Investigate the idea of government.
1. The term government has several meanings and can denote one of the
following:
- the group of people who control a country or state;
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
- a form or method of governing;
Oxford Concise Dictionary of Politics
- the act or process of controlling a country.
Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary of Law
Write down some words and phrases related to government.
What forms of government can you name?
2. Study the definitions of government given below. Which of them best matches
your understanding?
- Government is a political organization comprising individuals and
institutions authorized to formulate public policies and conduct affairs of
state.
- Government is the management of a country which is entitled to serve
three major purposes: maintaining order, providing public goods and
promoting equality.
- Government is the system of social control under which the right to make
laws, and the right to enforce them, is vested in a particular group in
society.
- Government is the legitimate use of force to control human behavior
within territorial boundaries.
3. Underline the similarities and circle the differences.
4. Give your own definition of government.
5. In groups of three or four compare and contrast your notes. Discuss and report
back to the class the different points of view.
6. Compare your definition with the ones provided in the unit.
7. What is the role of government in a country?
8. What branch of power is government vested in?
9. Do you agree with the viewpoint that government appears to be the most
powerful and influential political institution in the majority of modern nations?
Substantiate your point of view.
10. How has the role of government changed over the last 50 years? In your
opinion, do governments nowadays have more powers than they used to have
in the past? What do you think accounts for that?
11. Can a state be effectively managed without government?
49
Vocabulary in use
I. Some useful words and expressions with government:
1. government offices, party, policy
2. a government body/agency/department
3. the head of government
4. to elect, to form, to set up, to install, to appoint, to nominate, to head, to preside
over the government
5. to take office, come to power
6. to serve, to support, to leave the government
7. to stay/remain in power
8. to return to, to get into government
9. to exercise power, to run a state
10. to take the first step on the government ladder
11. to bring down, to subvert, to dismiss, to dissolve, to oust, to topple the
government
12. to lose control of the government
13. to lose power, to fall/resign/step down/step aside/stand down/stand aside
14. the fall of government
15. to put (an issue) at the heart of government
16. government’s plan, approach, reform, programme
17. under the present/current/incumbent government
18. the government is accountable to…
19. democratic, constitutional, liberal, authoritarian government
20. the Thatcher/Blair/Obama government
21. the Labour/Conservative/Social Democratic government
22. left-wing, right-wing government
23. coalition, power-sharing government
24. transitional, interim, provisional government
25. local, regional, central/national government
26. de jure, de facto government
27. a minority government (that does not have enough politicians to control
parliament)
28. a divided government
29. puppet government (a nominally sovereign state effectively controlled by a
foreign power)
30. atrocious/heinous government
31. invisible government (the true ruling power of a country)
II. Answer the following questions using active vocabulary:
1. What are the characteristic features of a democratic government?
2. In what case is the government called authoritarian?
3. Can you give any example of an atrocious/heinous government?
4. Can arbitrary actions of government ever be justified?
5. How can you characterize the government in your country?
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6. Who forms the government in Russia? And in the UK?
7. What are usually the most important government departments? What spheres
are they responsible for?
8. Who can head the government? How is it connected with the form of
government?
9. How long can a government in a modern democratic state remain in power?
What factor does it depend on?
10. What can bring down the government? Support your opinion with both recent
and historical examples.
11. Who usually enjoys the right to dissolve government?
12. What might happen if the head of the executive lost control of the government?
13. Do you think that a government official should stand down if he or she does
not share the government’s policy?
14. For what reasons can a minister leave the government?
15. When does the fall of government occur? Give examples.
16. Why do reforms often cause protests in society? Can you give any examples of
successfully implemented reforms? And vice versa, can you think of the
situations when poorly thought and conducted reforms brought whole nations
to the brink of disaster? Who was to blame for such failures?
17. What major initiatives have been implemented by the incumbent Russian
government? How can you evaluate them?
18. If you were the Prime Minister, what issue would you put at the heart of
government?
19. Who is the government usually accountable to?
20. In your opinion, whose government was the most successful one in the British
post-war history? Substantiate your ideas with particular examples.
21. Drawing on your knowledge of the British political parties, can you single out
the main differences between the Conservative and the Labour government?
22. What differentiates a left-wing government from a right-wing one?
23. In what situations is a coalition government formed? How is it connected with
a hung parliament?
24. What is the difference between a transitional, interim and provisional
government? Can you provide examples of each of them?
25. What spheres of life is local government usually responsible for? And the
central one? How can devolution of power influence the distribution of power
within a country?
26. Can a de-facto government be considered a legitimate one? Justify your
opinion with particular examples.
27. What is understood by a divided government? What form of government
prevents the existence of a divided government? Why?
28. What is the difference between ‘puppet government’ and ‘invisible
government’?
29. What countries do you think are likely to have puppet government? What
nations have ever faced such a problem?
30. Whose interests does an invisible government usually act in?
51
Reading I
Who Governs Britain?
Read the text below and find answers to the following questions.
1. What institutions are involved in the process of governing the country?
2. Who are the members of the Cabinet?
3. What role is played by the Privy Council?
The many definitions of the term “government” demonstrate that it is not
easy to give a comprehensive description. Still more difficult (for a lay person) is
to understand the structure and operation of the whole machinery of the executive
government.
However, let’s try. It seems that no less than three major British institutions
are involved in the process. In the broader sense we may talk about all the
politicians who have been appointed by the monarch (on the advice of the Prime
Minister) to help run the country through Government Departments or to take on
various responsibilities. There are normally about a hundred members of ‘the
government’ in this sense. Although there are various ranks, members of the
government are usually known as ‘ministers’.
The other meaning of the term ‘government’ is more limited. It refers only to
the most powerful of these politicians, namely the Prime Minister and the group of
the closest advisors – the Cabinet. There are usually about twenty people in the
Cabinet. Most of them are the heads of Government Departments.
Last but not least is the Privy Council. It is one of the oldest institutions of
the British government and the Privy Council Office is the smallest autonomous
Government Department with fewer than 50 members of staff. Today its main role
is to advise the monarch on a range of matters such as the resolution of
constitutional issues and the approval of Orders in Council, plus the granting of
Royal Charters to public bodies. The most important task of the Privy Council
today is performed by its Judicial Committee.
In this unit we will take a closer look at the structure of the British
government and at the functions of all its components.
I. Mind the pronunciation of the following words:
1. comprehensive
2. autonomous
3. executive
4. machinery
5. Privy Council
6. Royal Charters
7. Judicial Committee
8. component
52
II. Say if the statements are true or false. Correct the false statements.
1. At least three major British institutions are involved in the process of
governing the country.
2. Government ministers are appointed by the monarch (on the advice of the
Privy Council) to help run the country through Government Departments.
3. There are normally about a hundred members of the Cabinet.
4. The majority of Cabinet members are heads of Government Departments.
5. The most important task of the Privy Council is the granting of Royal Charters
to public bodies.
6. The Privy Council is one of the oldest institutions of the British government.
III. Make up a summary of the text using the following expressions:
1. executive
2. institutions
3. to be appointed by the monarch
4. to run the country
5. to take on various responsibilities
6. the group of the closest advisors
7. to advise the monarch on a range of matters
8. the resolution of constitutional issues
9. the approval of Orders in Council
Talking point
In your opinion, which element in the British executive is the most important?
Justify your point of view.
Reading II
The Prime Minister and the Cabinet
The Prime Minister is the most senior officer of Her Majesty’s Government.
The full title of the office is Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury, and
Minister for the Civil Service of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Northern Ireland.
The Prime Minister’s main responsibilities include: running the
Government; appointing Cabinet Ministers and other ministers; coordinating the
activities of the Cabinet and Government departments; appointing judges, creating
Life Peers and making appointments to senior positions in the Church of England;
leading the majority party; being the ‘face’ of the government in the UK and
abroad.
The Prime Minister is technically appointed by the Monarch. The
appointment takes place after the results of a General Election indicate which
53
political party wins the majority of seats in
The first Prime Minister in the history
the House of Commons. After a General of England was Sir Robert Walpole
Election, the Queen calls upon the leader of during the reign of King George I (1714the largest party to officially appoint him to 1727). In fact he was filling the role of
King at Council meetings, that
a post of a Prime Minister, who then forms the
George with his poor grasp of English
the Government and the Cabinet.
could not manage (born in Germany the
In theory, the Prime Minister of the King never learned English and was
United Kingdom is a primus inter pares never happy in England, always
(first among equals) in the British Cabinet. preferring his beloved Hanover).
In appointing a Cabinet the Prime Minister generally includes members of
parliament who have political bases of their own and could potentially be a rival of
the Prime Minister. However, in practice, a strong Prime Minister can so dominate
government that he becomes a ‘semi-president’, and fulfils the leadership role in a
country in the same way as presidents do. Examples include William Ewart
Gladstone, David Lloyd George, Margaret Thatcher and Tony Blair.
The Cabinet is composed of about 20 ministers, although the number can
vary. It must be large enough to include senior ministers whilst small enough to
allow for constructive discussions. There is no limit on the size of the Cabinet, but
the number of salaried members is restricted by the 1975 Ministerial and Other
Salaries Act.
The functions of the Cabinet are to initiate and decide on policy, to exercise
the supreme control of government and to coordinate Government Departments.
The exercise of these functions is vitally affected by the fact that the Cabinet is a
group of party representatives, depending upon majority support in the House of
Commons.
The Cabinet meets in private and its proceedings are confidential. Its
members are bound by an oath not to disclose information about its proceedings,
although after 30 years Cabinet papers may be
The term Cabinet was first used
made available for inspection in the Public
during the reign of Charles II. At
that time the King used to summon
Record Office.
a few favoured members of his
Normally the Cabinet meets for a few
Privy Council for consultations in
hours each week on a Tuesday morning at No.
his private apartments and such
10 Downing Street during parliamentary
courtiers
became
known
as
members of his ‘Cabinet’.
sittings, and rather less often when Parliament is
not sitting. The Prime Minister can summon the
Cabinet to meet at any time and meeting will be more frequent when the political
situation so requires. It is the Prime Minister’s duty to meet the Queen during the
weekly audiences and inform her about the business of Government.
To keep its workload within manageable limits, a great deal of work is
carried on through the committee system. This involves referring issues either to a
Standing Cabinet Committee or to an ad hoc committee composed of the ministers
directly concerned. The committee then considers the matter in detail and either
disposes of it or reports upon it to the Cabinet with recommendations for action.
Departmental ministers normally decide all matters within their
responsibility. However, on important political matters they usually consult their
54
colleagues collectively, either through the Cabinet or through a Cabinet committee.
A decision by a departmental minister binds the Government as a whole.
Cabinet ministers are responsible for their departments, but the Cabinet as a
whole is accountable to Parliament for its actions, and its individual members must
be willing and able to publicly defend the Cabinet’s policies both in the Commons
and before a general public. The loss of a vote of confidence or the defeat of a
major legislative bill in the Commons can mean a Cabinet’s fall from power and
the collective resignation of its members. Despite the need for consensus and
collective action within a Cabinet, ultimate decision-making power rests with the
Prime Minister as the leader of his party.
Word Study
I. Mind the pronunciation of the following words:
1. treasury
2. technically
3. oath
4. initiate
5. parliamentary
6. proceedings
7. audiences
8. departmental
9. resignation
II. Find in the text above the English equivalents for the following key words
and expressions:
1. постоянно действующий комитет
2. специальный комитет
3. вотум доверия
4. всеобщие выборы
5. самый старший по должности чиновник
6. государственный архив Великобритании
7. отставка Кабинета министров
8. назначать на посты членов Кабинета министров
9. быть связанным присягой
10. согласовывать деятельность Министерств
11. провалить законопроект
12. обнародовать информацию
13. возглавлять партию большинства
14. заседать при закрытых дверях
15. руководить деятельностью правительства
III. Match the words to make collocations.
1. to appoint
a. the government
2. to create
b. the leadership role
55
3. salaried
4. to summon
5. collective
6. to fulfil
7. to run
8. to disclose
9. to exercise
10. to initiate
c. control
d. to a post
e. the cabinet
f. resignation
g. information
h. peers
i. policy
j. members
IV. Fill in the gaps with prepositions in the phrases below, then choose any six
and use them in the sentences of your own.
1. to make appointments…….senior positions
2. to be composed ………
3. to allow ……… constructive discussions
4. limit ……… the size
5. to decide ……… policy
6. to meet…….private
7. available……inspection
8. to depend ……… majority support
9. to be made available ……… inspection
10. to refer issues……….a committee
11. to consider a matter……..detail
12. to dispose ……… sth
13. to report ……… sth
14. to decide matters ……… one’s responsibility
15. accountable ……… Parliament
16. to defend policies ……… the public
17. a Cabinet’s fall……power
18. the need……consensus and collective action
19. to call ……… the leader
20. to rest……..the Prime Minister
After-reading questions:
1. What are the major functions of the Prime Minister?
2. Which of his/her functions are reflected in his full title?
3. What functions of the British prime minister are not typical of the Heads of
Government in other countries? Why is it so?
4. How does the Prime Minister take office?
5. Can there be a situation when the British monarch decides himself/herself who
the next prime minister will be?
6. What is understood by the phrase ‘primus inter pares’? Is this principle always
observed in the real day-to-day work of the government?
7. How is the Cabinet formed?
8. What are the functions of the Cabinet?
56
9. Do you think that to some extent, the Cabinet depends on Parliament? Justify
your opinion.
10. How is the confidentiality of Cabinet proceedings guaranteed?
11. How often does the Cabinet meet?
12. What is understood by the weekly audiences? What role do they play in the
political life of the UK?
13. How does the committee system ease the workload of the Cabinet?
14. What are individual ministers within the Cabinet responsible for?
15. Why does the defeat of a major legislative bill in the Commons mean a
Cabinet’s fall from power?
16. How is the government accountable to people?
17. Who holds the ultimate decision-making power in Government?
Speaking
Using additional sources, prepare a presentation about one of the best known
British Prime Ministers. You may find useful information on the following
website: http://www.britannia.com/gov/primes/
Vocabulary in use
Some useful words and expressions to talk about coalition government:
1. a minority government
2. to govern with a small majority
3. to accept, to block a coalition
4. to form, join a coalition
5. to go into coalition
6. to lead, head a coalition
7. to launch a coalition
8. coalition partners
9. to be under coalition rule
10. not to be agreed within the coalition
11. coalition disagreements, tensions
12. a coalition collapses, breaks up
13. to attack, to condemn coalition’s plans
14. to end, to abandon the coalition
15. the ruling, governing, opposition, two-party, left-wing coalition
Pre-reading guesses
In groups of three or four discuss the following questions. Report your ideas
to the class.
1. What is a coalition government? For what reasons can such governments be
formed?
57
2. What countries usually have coalition governments? Is it typical of Britain to
be under coalition rule?
3. What are the shortcomings of a coalition government?
4. What is the difference between a single-party government and a coalition
government? Which of them has more advantages?
5. What is understood by the opposition coalition? Can it pose a real threat to the
ruling party/incumbent government?
6. What is meant by collective responsibility? Is this principle appropriate for a
coalition government?
Reading III
Read the text below and find out if any of your ideas have been mentioned.
The Principles of Government
Partly as a result of the electoral system, Britain, unlike much of Western
Europe, normally has a ‘single-party government’. In other words, all members of
the government belong to the same political party. There were however several
governments in Britain whose members were drawn from a variety of different
parties (this is known as ‘coalition government’). Coalitions were usually formed
in times of national crisis, for example during wartime, in periods of economic
difficulty or if no party had a majority. Party differences were laid aside while the
crisis lasted and the parties agreed on a programme which could be supported by as
many MPs as possible.
The habit of a ‘single-party government’ has helped to establish the tradition
known as collective responsibility. That is, every member of the government
shares the responsibility for every policy made by the government. Since the
Second World War, all governments have been formed either by the Labour Party
or the Conservative Party. Members of the same party are likely to agree on a
programme of policies. Having won elections, they will also have the support of
the majority of MPs in the House of Commons. This will enable them to put their
policies into practice. Of course, individual government members may hold
different opinions, but they are expected to keep these private. By convention, no
member of the government can criticize government policy in public. Any member
who does so must resign.
Another principle of the Cabinet’s work, the doctrine of ministerial
responsibility, demands that a Minister should accept a full administrative
responsibility for the administration of his/her department. A minister’s resignation
is the only publicly acceptable course of action if significant mistakes occur. The
doctrine provides direct and effective political accountability for the actions of the
executive. It is one of the central components of the doctrine of the separation of
powers which is itself a cornerstone of any democratic government.
58
Find in the text above the English equivalents for the following expressions:
1. доктрина политической ответственности министров
2. публично критиковать политику правительства
3. разделять ответственность за любую политику, проводимую
правительством
4. доктрина разделения властей
5. иметь поддержку большинства членов парламента
6. проводить политику в жизнь
7. доктрина коллективной ответственности
8. принадлежать к одной политической партии
9. придерживаться различных мнений
10. разногласия были забыты
Reading IV (Additional)
Read the following articles, paying attention to the underlined expressions:
British Coalition Governments' Effectiveness Debated
For the first time in almost 70 years Britain has a coalition government and
its leaders are calling it a new kind of politics for Britain. Some analysts say it's a
democratic move that brings Britain in line with politics elsewhere in the world,
but skeptics warn that coalitions can lead to weak and unstable government.
Britain's Conservatives and Liberal Democrats formed a coalition after the
May 6 General Election failed to give any one party an overall majority. It's the
first coalition in Britain since WWII and opinions here are mixed over whether it
will be a good or a bad thing for Britain.
Jan Meyer-Sahling from the University of Nottingham says Britons don't
have to look far to see whether coalitions work. "I think it's important to recognize
that the UK is a bit of an exception in the wider European context," said MeyerSahling. "In most of Europe you have actually coalition governments in place
rather than single-party majority governments as you have in the UK." He says
most coalitions in Europe have been very effective. New democracies in Eastern
Europe, he says, have been headed almost entirely by coalitions and it's been an
important way to unite different groups within each country. "Generally there is a
sense for the new member states or for the new democracies of Central and Eastern
Europe that coalition governments have been important to find compromises
between different segments in society," he added.
Richard Vinen from King's College London says it can be difficult for a
single-party majority government to push through tough legislation without
causing a backlash from other political parties. In a coalition, he says, a wider
range of parties are responsible for those decisions so the electorate is more willing
to accept hard-hitting policies like cuts in public spending. He says coalitions also
bring new voices into government that might not otherwise be heard. "It's often
59
gone with de-radicalization of politics," said Vinen. "It's often gone with quite
unexpected groups being brought into the political consensus - so the German
Greens collaborating in government, for example, the French Communists in the
early 1980s collaborating in government."
But critics of coalition governments say they are often short-lived. Italy has
a history of fractious coalition governments and has had over 60 governments in
office since 1945. And they say in coalition governments the lowest common
denominator always triumphs, which means strong, but necessary decisions are not
made.
Christian Schweiger, from Britain's Durham University, says it's an
inefficient form of government. He says this is so even in Germany, which is
Europe's largest economy and is widely held up as an example of the benefits of
coalitions. "I would argue that in terms of political efficiency and in terms of
efficiency of implementing a coherent agenda, trying to make swift decisions
particularly on the economy, it has been very problematic in recent years," note
Schweiger.
Rosemary Hollis is a Middle-East specialist at Britain's City University. She
says Israel has been led almost entirely by coalitions. She says the result is a failure
to resolve two major issues, the economy and the Palestinians. She says each
segment of Israel's population has a different plan for how to solve the ongoing
conflict with the Palestinians. "In the Israeli experience, an accurate reflection of
public opinion means inaction on the big issues like peace with the Palestinians,"
noted Hollis.
In Britain the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats say they will pass
legislation that will keep their coalition government in power for five years. That
move should steer the country clear of Italy's frequently collapsing governments.
But it's yet to be seen whether the two parties will find enough common ground to
govern Britain together.
Selah Hennessy, 18 May 2010, Voice of America
Cameron and Clegg present a united front to mark first year of coalition
David Cameron and Nick Clegg have marked the coalition government's
first anniversary with a show of unity and a pledge to see out a full five-year term
in power.
At an event in east London, the prime minister and his deputy took turns to
portray the coalition as two parties with distinct identities, prone to arguments
behind the scenes, but intent on coming up with unified policy conclusions that
would best serve the country.
Cameron and Clegg appeared together in Stratford as the coalition
government sought to draw a line under the events of last week, when the Lib
Dems fared very badly in local and devolved parliament elections and failed to win
the alternative vote referendum.
60
Cameron said the voters would not be swayed by unspecified "fripperies"
but by whether the government delivered "good results about the things that British
people care about".
Clegg insisted that "whoever was in government" would have to do difficult,
controversial and, in some respects, downright unpopular things.
"I went into this with my eyes open, my party went into this collectively
with our eyes open, that it wouldn't be easy– you shouldn't go into government
because it is easy – but because we genuinely believe that what we are doing
together, two parties coming together, yes retaining our differences, to clear up a
lot of the problems we have inherited of the past that is the long-term interest of
the country."
Clegg added: "Polls go up and down. People's popularity goes up and down,
parties' popularity goes up and down. At the end of the day, how will we be
judged? We will be judged about whether we have sorted out the mess we have
inherited and restored a sense of optimism, of prosperity, of jobs for this country. It
is a job we have started and we are going to see it through. This was always going
to be the really, really tough part for the coalition and the tough part for the country
economically."
The reason for coalition was "as strong today as it was a year ago", said
Cameron, as he highlighted long-term "structural problems" facing the country, the
nation's debt and youth unemployment.
"We have different traditions and views and beliefs and we have robust
discussions, even arguments in private, and then we come out with agreed policies
that we think are good for the country," said Cameron. "If people could see what
actually happens in private, where both parties stand up for their views but we
come to a good, collective decision, I think they'd see it is a strong coalition
government and that's what I'm absolutely committed to delivering."
Hélène Mulholland, 12 May 2011, The Guardian
'Go home' campaign against illegal immigrants could go nationwide
Downing Street took the risk of escalating coalition tensions on Monday by
declaring that a controversial campaign telling illegal immigrants to "go home"
was working and could be extended nationwide.
A day after the Liberal Democrat business secretary, Vince Cable, called the
campaign "stupid and offensive", a No 10 spokesman said David Cameron
disagreed, adding that the posters and leaflets were attracting "a great deal of
interest".
In a separate move, Lib Dem sources said that a Home Office plan to force
visitors from certain Asian and African countries to pay a £3,000 bond before
being allowed to visit the UK had not been agreed within the coalition. Reports
saying the plan had been signed off prompted a particularly angry reaction from
India.
61
Immigration is one of the issues on which the two coalition parties differ
most sharply and the future of the illegal immigration advertising campaign and
the bond policy are likely to be the subject of further arguments in coming weeks.
The campaign, which features the message: "In the UK illegally? Go home
or face arrest", has been widely criticised because the blunt "go home" message is
said to be reminiscent of racist graffiti common in the 1970s.
But on Monday the prime minister's spokesman said: "This pilot that is
currently running is about targeting [illegal immigrants] and it is working."
He said Cameron believed that encouraging illegal immigrants to leave the
UK voluntarily was more cost-effective than arresting them and removing them by
force.
No 10's enthusiasm for the campaign failed to impress the Lib Dems, who
said they continued to find the adverts distasteful. A party source said Lib Dem
ministers would need a lot of persuading that the campaign was having a beneficial
effect and called claims that it only cost £10,000 misleading, because the row
about the campaign's political undertones meant that it had now had as much
publicity as a much more expensive advertising drive.
Andrew Sparrow, 29 July 2013, The Guardian
Talking point
1. What offices do the leaders of the parties hold in the British coalition
government?
2. Do party differences make a coalition stronger or weaker?
3. Do you agree with the idea that coalition governments are doomed and
destined to be weak, unstable and ineffective?
4. Do you think that coalition governments really contribute to finding
compromises and uniting different groups within a country?
5. Why are coalitions believed to accept hard-hitting policies more easily and
push through tough legislation with greater success than single-party
governments?
6. What “new voices” do you think should be brought into the British
government? And into the Russian one?
7. Is it difficult for the parties involved in a coalition government to keep their
different identities?
8. Can the government implement a policy, which hasn’t been agreed within the
coalition? What can it lead to?
9. Under what circumstances can a coalition collapse?
10. In your opinion, what issues are likely to spark the most heated debate in the
incumbent British government?
11. Do you reckon that the current Conservative-Libdems coalition is strong and
efficient enough to respond to the present threats and challenges Britain is
facing now? Justify your opinion with examples of particular events and
government decisions.
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12. Why has the migration issue triggered such a fierce debate in the ruling
coalition?
13. From your perspective, what accounts for the failure of the major Libdems’
initiatives?
14. Is the next British government likely to be a coalition one? Why/Why not?
Reading V
The Privy Council
Historically the Privy Council was the name given to the group of ministers
who acted as chief advisers to the King or Queen. As the power of the monarch
declined the Cabinet replaced the Privy Council as the senior decision-making
body.
Today the Privy Council’s duties are largely formal and ceremonial. It has
about three hundred members, including all Cabinet members (past and present),
the leaders of all the main parties, and the Speaker. Its formal tasks include
advising the monarch on a range of matters, like the resolution of constitutional
issues and the approval of Orders in Council, such as the granting of Royal
Charters to public bodies. The most important task of the Privy Council today is
performed by its Judicial Committee. This serves as the final court of appeal from
the dependencies and Commonwealth countries. It may also act as an arbiter for a
wide range of courts and committees in Britain and overseas, and its rulings can be
influential. The office of Privy Counsellor is an honorary one, conferred, for
example, on former Prime Ministers. In the House of Commons a Privy Counsellor
will take precedence over a normal MP when the Speaker calls MPs to speak, and
may speak for longer. Privy Counsellors are referred to in the Commons as “Right
Honorable” members.
Membership of the Council, which is retained for life, except for very
occasional removals, is granted by the Sovereign, on the recommendation of the
Prime Minister, to people eminent in public life in Britain and the independent
monarchies of the Commonwealth. Cabinet ministers must be Privy Counsellors
and, if not already members, are admitted to membership before taking their oath
of office at a meeting of the Council. Full meetings of the Privy Council occur only
on the death of a monarch and the accession of a new monarch, when the Council
issues a proclamation of the accession and announces the name of the new
Sovereign.
Word Study
I. Mind the pronunciation of the following words:
1. Privy Counsellor
2. ceremonial
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3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
dependencies
arbiter
honorary
honorable
confer
precedence
accession
II. Give definitions to the words from the text and illustrate their meaning in
the sentences of your own.
1. to decline
2. approval
3. to grant
4. dependency
5. overseas
6. to confer
7. to retain
8. eminent
9. accession
III. Comment on the meaning of the following expressions from the text:
1. to act as chief advisers
2. senior decision-making body
3. to perform a task
4. to serve as the final court of appeal
5. to take precedence over sb
6. to retain for life
7. to admit to membership
8. to take oath of office
9. full meetings
IV. Fill in the gaps in the table below with verbs derived from the following
nouns.
adviser
resolution
approval
performance
appeal
dependency
ruling
precedence
removal
accession
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After-reading questions:
1. What institution was named the Privy Council?
2. How has the role of the Privy Council changed over time?
3. What modern institution assumed the most important functions the Privy
Council used to have in the past?
4. How many members are there in the Privy Council?
5. Who is admitted to its membership?
6. What tasks are performed by the Privy Council?
7. What functions are executed by the Judicial Committee?
8. What is understood by dependencies and Commonwealth countries?
9. How is membership of the Privy Council granted?
10. How are the members of the Privy Council treated in the House of Commons?
11. When do full meetings of the Privy Council occur?
12. Why is the Privy Council often called a relic of the past?
Talking point
1. Does the Privy Council act as a kind of forum for discussion?
2. Why are its full meetings so rare?
3. Does the Privy Council play an important role in the process of governing the
country? Justify your opinion.
4. How can the government use the Privy Council to issue regulation without
Parliament having any say? Does it undermine the supremacy of Parliament?
5. Is there any institution in the Russian Federation similar to the British Privy
Council? What body advises our head of state?
Listening
I. Listen to the talk given by David Cameron, the prime minister of the UK
and the leader of the UK's Conservative Party.
The leader of Britain's Conservative Party says we're entering a new era -- where
governments themselves have less power (and less money) and people empowered
by technology have more. Tapping into new ideas on behavioral economics, he
explores how these trends could be turned into smarter policy.
http://www.ted.com/talks/david_cameron.html
II. While watching the video, fill in the gaps in the following sentences:
1. Politics is “showbiz for _______ _______.”
2. The scientists thought about replacing _______ in their experiments with
politicians.
3. If people combine the right political philosophy with the incredible _______
_______, they will remake politics and government.
4. If people are given more power, you can create _______ _______.
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5. Politics and politicians will succeed if they _______ _______ as they are.
6. Today people live in a post-bureaucratic age, in a world of _______ _______.
7. There was _______ _______ in the pre-bureaucratic age.
8. _______ and ______ gave birth to the bureaucratic age.
9. The information and Internet revolution hasn’t touched the _______.
10. _______, choice and _______ will make a huge difference in government.
11. “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask _______________________.”
12. Huge advances in information technology, _______ _______ and giving power
to people will make life worthwhile.
Comment on the following statements
1. That government is best which governs least (Henry David Thoreau).
2. What we should be asking is not whether we need a big government or small
government, but how we can create a smarter and better government (Barack
Obama, University of Michigan Commencement, 2010).
3. Government is too big and too important to be left to the politicians (Chester
Bowles ).
4. Whenever you have an efficient government you have a dictatorship (Harry S
Truman).
5. In the long-run every Government is the exact symbol of its People, with their
wisdom and unwisdom; we have to say, Like People like Government (Thomas
Carlyle).
6. Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an
intolerable one (Thomas Paine).
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